The radio series “Narratives – Stories and Fairy Tales for All Ages”, broadcast on Voice of Greece, presents the second part of the historical tribute to the life of the gifted painter of Greek descent, Constantino Brumidi (1805–1880), on Saturday, 9 August, 2025.
Drawing from the pages of the book “The Painter with Three Homelands” (Golden List ELNIPLEX 2020) by author Grigoris Chaliakopoulos, published by Kaleidoscope Editions, we invite listeners of all ages to discover the remarkable journey and turbulent life of Constantino Brumidi, born in Rome in 1805 to an Italian mother and a Greek father from Filiatra, Messinia.
Brumidi’s talent first gained recognition in his native Italy when he was commissioned to restore frescoes by Renaissance master Raphael in the Vatican. However, his legacy was ultimately cemented in the United States, where he spent the final 25 years of his life creating monumental works in the Capitol Building, the symbolic heart of American democracy.
His crowning achievement, The Apotheosis of Washington, painted on the Capitol dome in Washington, D.C., earned him the nickname “The Michelangelo of the United States” from Capitol officials.
The first part of the tribute, which aired on Saturday, 02 August 2025, traces the early years of Brumidi’s life, from his father’s escape from Greece to the artist’s birth and beginnings in Italy.
The second part, focusing on Brumidi’s American chapter and his iconic works in Washington, will air on Saturday, 09 August 2025 at 17:00 (Athens time).
Produced and presented by Maria Karagiannaki Iona
Broadcast: Saturday, 09 August 2025 at 17:00
