by Flora Arguilla, UC Santa Barbara, Art History Dept, Art Conservation Intern
The
destruction of Hubbell Reed McBride’s mural, Animal Circus, would have meant
the tragic loss of a whimsical, colorful, and beautifully detailed historical
painting that everyone from children to adults has enjoyed for decades. People
who care about artistic and historical heritage, professional art conservation
technology and extensive mural restoration expertise made the preservation of
this masterpiece possible.
It was
created in 1940, with oil paint on canvas adhered to a wall using a technique called
marouflaged and is 6 ft high and 27 ft long!
Some of the
first things that come to mind while looking at this marvelous work of art are
the words “cute” and “fun!” The artistic quality of this piece
and the
enjoyable subject matter is unparalleled — if you don’t believe me, do a Google
search for “animal circus murals”. No other mural of the same quality even
comes close. The fact that it was made specifically for the enjoyment of
children makes it even more endearing.
When the
building that the mural was original located was demolished decades later, the
technique of gluing the canvas the wall with starch paste turned out to be a
life saver for the mural. Fortunately, the mural on canvas was able to be taken
off and saved it. Though badly damaged with the inept removal technique, it
survived until it could get professional mural conservation treatments.
Although the
mural was in storage in Denver, the owner’s searched nationally for a mural
restoration expert who was experienced in treating such large paintings. A
knowledgeable contact in Santa Fe, NM referred them to Fine Art Conservation Laboratories (FACL) in Santa Barbara, CA who
was, at the time, just finishing up on the lining (backing) and conservation of
three 30 foot paintings for the State of
Texas.
The mural’s
cracking and flaking was stabilized and the painting was backed with a stiff
support to prevent distortions in the mural and prepared it for reinstallation.
Once treated Animal Circus was preserved for generations to come.
A Short
Biography on HR McBride (1892-1960)
As a boy,
Hubbell grew up in Mansfield, Ohio and developed a talent for drawing animals
that made people smile. He came to understand that art has the ability to touch
the lives of millions of people. After high school, he found a job in
Cleveland, making illustrations for a newspaper syndicate, but they eventually
let him go. After a year there, he had gained enough confidence to try the big
market in New York.
Fortunately,
this led to him become friends with the founder of Editor and Publisher
magazine. He had established connections in the industry, and for the next 25
years he distinguished himself as cover artist and illustrator for several top
Hearst publications
like
Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping, as well as the Saturday Evening Post and
Liberty & Collier’s Weekly Magazine.
Although he
had a taste of the fast-paced life of a professional artist in New York,
something that some people could only dream of, he walked away from his
successful illustrator’s career to spend his life in rural America in order to
put smiles into the lives of everyone who encountered his playful images in
that region.
His work is
easily recognizable for its warm humor, and for animals with memorable
personalities. With a wealth of experience in graphic arts, McBride was a gift
to the community in the 40s and 50s, painting a wide canvas of all sorts: from
sacred scenes in the First Congregational Church in Lexington, to background
drops for the Mansfield Players and Children’s Theater. Cartoon farm animals
were undoubtedly a fan favorite, even from his very earliest works. In his
drawings, McBride showcased the whimsical personalities and characteristics of
the animals he was familiar with in his drawings, while also adding a touch of
fun by drawing the animals with funny faces.
In the 1940s
Reed McBride painted several murals in Richland County that became well-known
landmarks in stores, churches and the Municipal Building. Below is a mural he
created for the Ven-Mar market on Marion Avenue.
Questions?
Call Scott M. Haskins, Oriana Montemurro, Virginia Panizzon Art Conservators
805 564 3438 faclartdoc@gmail.com
For more
information, check out these links!
Buck Winn
Murals for the State of Texas
FACL’s mural
capability statement:
FACL’s mural
consultation statement:
FACL videos
of mural conservation capabilities:
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