Maxine Albro Frescoes Uncovered After 90 Years

Anna May Dunlap, The Ebell’s president at the time, recruited Albro to beautify the north loggia of The Ebell's garden with four frescoes. Albro was a leading female muralist and painter in the United States. One of the few women to be commissioned under the New Deal's Federal Art Project, she created pieces of art for public buildings, as well as frescoes for private homes.

Each of these Ebell artworks depicted a Roman, Cumaean, Erythraean, and Delphic sibyl—"The Four Sibyls”—gowned in long robes and dresses, encircled by flowers, with a scroll close by. The frescoes were bold in color and quite modern for the times. 

However, shortly after the completion of the murals, controversy arose regarding their “appropriateness.” Between the depiction of prophets from ancient mythology and the “too bright” color scheme that clashed with the nearby garden, many wanted to do away with the art.

This debate lasted for nearly two years and came to be known as the “Sibyl War.” In March of 1935, members finally voted 385 to 223 in favor of their removal. The frescoes seemingly “disappeared” after this, though there was never any recorded documentation as to what actually happened to the art. 

After Dr. Stacy Brightman became The Ebell’s first-ever Executive Director in 2021, she began to hear rumblings about the mysterious disappearance and couldn’t seem to shake her curiosity. Architect, Chair of the House Committee, and Vice President of The Ebell Board of Directors Caroline Labiner Moser had investigated on her own time, even noting the faint outline of the sibyls’ cloaks on the walls, but no formal inspection ever followed suit.

That was until January of this year when Brightman hired wall-painting conservator Kiernan Graves for further inspection. Chipping away at a few six inch squares, Graves uncovered the “lost” frescoes hidden underneath layers of paint. 

Brightman, Moser, and other Ebell members have come to believe that those in favor of the murals likely had them painted over in hopes of them resurfacing in the future. This theory is supported by recent finds in The Ebell’s archives. Notes from past members during the “Sibyl War” had stated, “We may not understand what we're doing now, but women in the future will understand.”

Unfortunately, the way the frescoes were preserved left them in a very fragile state. Not only this, but the building must also undergo a seismic retrofitting, which puts the murals at risk of being damaged by dust and debris. So, in an effort to ensure their safekeeping for a bit longer, Graves covered the frescoes back up after confirming their status. 

Once the building construction is finished, The Ebell plans to let the sibyls see the light again.