ART

Constantino Brumidi [or Costantino] (1805-1880) Known as the "Michelangelo of the Capitol," Brumidi spent 25 years painting the walls and ceilings of the United States Capitol. The rotunda of the Capitol, with the Apotheosis of Washington, and the frescoes and murals on the first floor of the Senate wing – the Brumidi Corridors – are among the most elaborately decorated public places in America.

John Buscema (1927-2002) His artwork is synonymous with Marvel Comics, and he has influenced future generations of comic book artists. With Stan Lee, he co-authored How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way, known as the comic book bible. Influenced by the artwork of comic book legends Prince Valiant, Tarzan, and Flash Gordon, Buscema studied at Pratt Institute and studied the Masters – Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael, and Rubens. At Marvel, he illustrated Conan, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, and Silver Surfer, along with many others. At DC Comics, he illustrated a Batman story. He also created the art for several Dell comics. He was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2002.

Tribute

Frank Frazetta (1928) One of the most influential fantasy and science fiction artists in the world, Frazetta was just a child when he began taking art lessons. With a natural inclination toward art and with the encouragement of his grandmother, Frazetta started drawing his own comic books at age six. Early in his career, he developed artwork and stories for the comic book industry, and later worked as Al Capp’s assistant on Li’l Abner. Paperback book covers followed, and a caricature he painted of Ringo Starr attracted the attention of Hollywood, leading Frazetta to design movie posters, book jackets, magazine covers, album covers, calendars, art books, and many works on commission.

Costantino Nivola (1911-1988) Combining architecture with sculpture, Nivola is known for his relief and semi-abstract artistry, and for creating the technique for sand casting in cement. From the 1950s to the 80s, he created sculptures, wall murals, and panels for many public places in all five boroughs of New York City. He was instrumental in getting Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. approved.

Francesco Scavullo (1921-2004) One of the most prominent glamour, fashion, and celebrity photographers in the world. By the age of ten, Scavullo had developed an interest in photography, and within a few years he was taking portraits of his sisters posing as glamorous movie stars. By 19, he created his first cover for Seventeen magazine and was signed to contract. In 1965, he became the cover photographer of Cosmopolitan, hired to create a new image of the Cosmopolitan girl, and remained there for 30 years. In between, he photographed rock stars and movie stars for other magazine covers, record albums, and posters, and published six books of his works. His photographs are on permanent exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, and the Guggenheim, in New York City.