The mystery is revealed.
Through January 2005, Lansing's Michigan Historical Museum will exhibit artwork by Tommaso Juglaris, the formerly unknown artist who painted eight mystical Greek muses on the state Capitol dome.
About 50 paintings, sketches and works by the Italian artist will adorn the walls of the 3,000-square-foot exhibit at 702 W. Kalamazoo St.
"He was a person, just through the fickleness of history, just fell out of everyone's remembrance, out of memory," Capitol historian Kerry Chartkoff said. "Not only here in America, but also in his home town."
Juglaris, who lived from 1844 to 1925, went unnoticed by residents in his home city of Moncalieri, Italy, until recently, when Michigan historians found the link between the city and Lansing. Sketches of the Michigan Capitol rotunda muses were found in the city in the last year, proving that Juglaris was the unnamed artist.
Chartkoff worked with the Famija Moncalereisa, a cultural heritage organization, to bring various works from Moncalieri to Lansing.
The people of Moncalieri now take a lot of pride in knowing artwork from their town decorates what they call the "palace of Michigan," Chartkoff said.
"These works of art are the crowning jewels of this building - and the most public painted works of art in the entire state," Chartkoff said. "And yet no one knew a thing about him.
"We've rescued him from being totally forgotten."
It's possible that immigrant artists, even today, could be overlooked, said Maria Leiby, a Michigan Historical Museum historian.
"He's a part of our history that we had lost," Leiby said. "It's important to understand why he was lost because I don't think it's too far fetched that something like that could happen again."
Few records of the Capitol artist's identity existed because Michigan legislators restricted the project to be completed by only American citizens or immigrants working to obtain citizenship. Juglaris was neither, Leiby said.
The paintings were finished and delivered to Lansing in 1886, and "almost at the same time, there was labor unrest and concerns about immigrants taking American jobs," Leiby said.
"In the past, in American history, concern about immigration has gotten out of hand more than once," she added. "There is still danger of that happening."
Juglaris' status as a foreigner prohibited him from openly claiming the pieces. Instead, he signed the paintings with a small symbol that historians only recently discovered represented his initials.
"This is impressive," said Tom Shawver of the Friends of Michigan History. "I'm just delighted they are able to unravel those mysteries of who painted the Capitol dome."
Other visitors said they have been moved by the artwork.
"It's beautiful," said Brianna Martin of Lansing. "It's very meaningful because the muses represent the good things in life.
"I really enjoy all the time I go to the Capitol and admire this type of art."
But the display not only celebrates Juglaris' artwork, Chartkoff said. It recognizes contributions made by immigrants from across the country.
"He represents all those people," she said.
