Saving a Whimsical Mural of an Animal Circus 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 1