Premiering October 20, 2026, at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, “American Michelangelo – Finding Constantino Brumidi” is the first documentary about Constantino Brumidi, also known as the “Michelangelo of the U.S. Capitol.”
As part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, the Embassy of Italy has sponsored the production of the documentary “American Michelangelo – Finding Constatino Brumidi”. The film explores the life and art of Constantino Brumidi through exclusive accounts from the art historians and curators who, beginning in the mid-1950s, brought his works to light.
The film takes viewers inside the U.S. Capitol, featuring never-before-seen footage, and connects Brumidi’s celebrated American body of work, including the “Apotheosis” in the Capitol Rotunda, the extraordinary decorations he created in Rome at the Theater of Villa Torlonia and the Chapel of the Madonna dell’Archetto.
The screening will be followed by a discussion featuring Barbara Wolanin, Curator Emerita for the Architect of the Capitol, and journalist Molly McCluskey. The event will be opened by the Ambassador of Italy, Marco Peronaci, alongside Robert Allegrini, President of the National Italian American Foundation, which supported the project.
The documentary was produced by Antonella Ciancio, a former correspondent for Reuters in Europe and for RAI in the United States.
October 19, 2026
