, 1899-09-07
PRICELESS PICTURES.
DISCOVERED IN TAKING DOWN
PICTURES OF GEORGES.
Are the Work of verrio-They Were
Defaced by Nail Holes, bur Damaged
Parts Have Been Reproduced by Re-
storers.

"'
An interesting discovery has re-
warded the researches of Lore Echer
and ether officials at Hampton palace.
England.
There has always lurked a suspicion
that the walls of the famous Queen
Anue's drawing room, which is in the
center of tie east wing of Wren's
famous building. which room forms
the peX on which the three great
of trees known to the whole
world converge. contained more than
the second rate portraits of the
Georges. Never. however. was 1t sup
posed that an important work by that
once famous decorative artist Verrio
had been concealed since 1885, owing
to a stupendous act of vandalism. which
K is presumed was carried ou by
Queen Caroline in 1875, probably TO
prevent the apotheosis of Queen Anne
from meeting her eyes in her draw
ing room when she became queen. And
again in 1888 the beautiful paintings
now discovered were covered up. The
date is known by the extraordinary
act OF the paper hanger of that time,
who, in covering up Verrio's work.
scratched his own name and the data
OF the paper-hang ing. In taking down
some of the portraits of the Georges,
which were intended for Kensinston
palace. it was noticed by an Official
that the top right-hand corner close
to the ceiling seemed abruptly cut off
from the general scheme of the beauti-
ful ceiling, which every one has seen
INT admired, and which represents
Queen Anne, in the chariot of Justice,
dressed in purple, lined with ermtne.
Over her head is a crown. held by Nep-
tune and Britannia, while surrounding
and floating in the clouds are various
categorical figures representing Peace
and Plenty, etc. The discovery now
made shows that the whole of the
walls were originally painted by Yer
rio in the same manner. the subject be-
eing Queen Anne's apotheosis "a Queen
of the Sea in the four great quarters OF
the globe. The Importance of the
find" was not really known until
Haines & Sons, the queens picture re-
s%torers. began to clean away the cen
fury n a half's dire and dust which
had accumulated under the wall paper.
when it was seen that the very dirt
that obscured the pictures had really
preserved their beautiful colors and de-
signs and 1t is only now. when the
walls have been nearly restored, that n
true appreciation OF the discovery can
be made. On carefully stripping the
red colored paper off the walls it was
found that the vandals who first OBJ.
scured the pictures had done immense
damage by cutting away much of Yer
rios mural painting to insert the bat
tens on which they stretched the tough
canvas Il hold a great silk damask Gov
ering. BY carefully nursing every bit
of the design the restorers have been
able to reproduce these fragments OF
the picture which were torn away by
the workman's plaster hammer. The
green silk damask covering was Queen
Caroline's George lis wife) design
for the covering of Queen Anne's pic
lures, and over this she hung the pic
lures of her W people, which she
brought from kensington palace. Many
shreds of this silk covering were found
attached to the battens. In 1888 this
silk became tattered and faded and was
taken down to give place to ordinary
heavy wall paper stretched on rude