Evening star., 1921-08-14

corridor distinguished as depicting
the nine muses. in panels. He Worheu
with George Maynard on the iaree
dancing figures in eight large req
panels around the main stalrwa!. an. an
on Maynard's pavilion representing
the sciences and arts. he Worhed
or the House and Senate reading rooms
and worked up in the great dome WIN
Edwin Blashficld.
1t was while working I'm the Con-
eressional Library that Moberiy was
introduced to the widow of Brumldl:
who was then Mrs. kirkwood and
living at the Willows. She haa
been Brumidfs model throughout ms
work in the Capitol. and so had an
opportunity to observe closely his
methods. Through questioning her
Mr. Moberly was able to learn what
he had been unable to find in many
books-what is generally supposed
to be a lost art-lime frescoine. IL
is e slow and expensive process; pIt
not lost" by any means. MIR. Moberly
saws. and he is going to DO some OF IL
under the s5.0Gn appropriation Con,
sress has made TO begin the mural
decoration of the House end
X x X 90
THE greatest disappointment OF his
L life was when he learned that
large quantity of lime which he had
buried years ago on the old home prop
erty in Frederick, against the DAY When
he would need il for lime fresco work on
the Capitol walls. had been used by the
neighbors TO whitewash their back
fences, chicken coops and pig sues. FOR
a quarter of century he mas peeh
hunting-and is sull hunting IN
Washington for a treasure store OF
years-cured lime which he is sure
the artist Brumidi must have buried
He wants this lime to continue Bruml-
di buried he intends to build vat
of lime fresco from Brumidis widow.
He brought a little of the lime.
with him from Frederick years ago,
and if he cannot find the lime Brumi-
did buried he intends to build vat
in the basement of the Capitol ana
cure some more lime.
Another interesting thing that Mo-
berly learned from Brumidis widow
is that when he submitted his original
design for the historical frieze or
belt-course in the rotunda. when was
unfinished at his death. Brumldl
nainted it on a band of silk for sub
initial to the library committee. This
was approved, and the original design
on silk was secreted in safe ue-
posit vault in some Washington panh.
For twenty-five years Moberly has also
been conducting quiet search for that
wonderful original design which
should be used to complete the frieze
No great artist ever had more
devoted disciple than Moberly has
been of Brumidi. Brumidi was paint
ing his wonderful canopy in the ro-
tunda of the Capitol when Moberly
was born.
II is with sentiments of reverence,
and with his keenest artistic feeiing
stirred to their depths that he has
undertaken the trust of restoring
Brumidi's first and best picture In
the Capitol-"Cincinnatu at the
Plow" This is lunette in the COM
mittee room now occupied by the
House committee on post office and
post roads A fire recently in this
room burned the side walls. The
heat was SO Intense that IL drew the
plaster from the walls and Mr.. Mo-
berly has already restored much OF
the original decorations.
He considers the work done pH
Brumidi in this room the best of all
he did in the Capitol. 1t is not his
largest work but II was done with
especial care and study.
X 4 y
THE restoration of this master
1 piece is not only a labor of love,
done with. his most careful tech
nioue. but is also a work of sentiment
with Moberly. He Is using upon IL
the set of pig bristle brushes Win
which Brumidi was working when
he died These were presented to him
by Brumidfs widow and are being
used forty-one years after his death
to preserve his work for posterity.
MIR. Moberly points out that there
are three distinct methods Of paint
ing represented in that. sample room.
The first and most important is lime
fresco, the second Is mural painting
in oil and the third distemper paint
ing. He calls attention to the fact
that Brumidi painted frames in gold
leaf around the four lime frescoes
in the ceiling to demonstrate the
practicability Of painting in gold on
Among some OF the. other impor.
tant work by the master. Brumidi.
which has been restored by Mober-
ly are the Presidents room. the pic.
ture in the ceiling of the office OF
sergeant-at-arms of the Senate and
the Senate appropriations committee
room He also restored the frescoes
damaged by the bomb explosion in
the reception, room OF the Senate, In
the early days of the war. When
Congress recesses next, he will finish
the large damAsk panels In the House
cnsmGse Besides the labor Of love that Mr..
Moberly has been performing for
more than twenty-five years in the
ticing offers of outside employment
through devotion to his IDEAL MIR.
Moberly has done some special COM
missions that have attracted much at
tention. One OF these jobs was at the
solicitation of the late Representative
Walter P. Brownlow. of Tennessee.
He decorated a conference chamber
in the Soldiers Home at johnson
City, Tenn. and Representative.
Of months later. after having served
for fourfeen years in COn1reSs