The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-05-25
FORTUNES UNEXPECTED.
How They Are Sometimes Found in
Debris and Dust heapa.


Debris and Dust Heaps.
The recent discovery In Paris OF
Raphaers La Belle JardIniere." which
the fortunate finder picked up for a
paltry A francs, reminds one OF many
similar romance OF art treasures
which have been bought for an old
song and sold for a fortune. and OF al
most priceless canvases found in the
most unexpected places.
About three years ago a picture deal
er In the Rue st. I4abare purchased an
old canvas from carpenter for 20
francs, not from any appreciation OF
the painting, but because II chanced
to NJ an empty frame. The framed
picture was put aside as OF little inter-
est or value, until one day an artist
chanced to see It. and after close in
spection exclaimed: Why, you have
treasure here. This Is variant Of
one OF Raphaels works, the vatican
Adam and Eve and is worth heap
OF money" A few days later the
dealer found a very ready purchaser
OF his 20-franc canvas for the sub
stantial sum of 10000 francs.
II is not many years since an anna
teur OF art, turning over some old
sketches In the shop of second hand
dealer on the boulevards, came across
a study in red chalk which took his
fancy and which the dealer gladly let
him take away in exchange for so
centimes, roughly the equivalent OF
s pence. on submitting the sketch
to an expert 1t was at once Identified
as Raphaels original design for his
great picture, La Disputa del Sacra-
mento," and worth at very modest
estimate f4OO.
At q recent sale in Carnarvonshire. a
very ancient and dirty picture was
knocked down. to the auctioneer's re-
lief. for 5-pound note. The pur-
chaser. thinking It possible that the
painting might really be worth more
than he had given for It. sent 1t to
where It was recognized as
a Rubens Of the value Of at least R7,-
900.
A romantic story Is told Of Van
dyck representing Abraham with up
lifted sword In the act of striking his
son Isaac. For many a long year 1t
had hung neglected in an old Cheshire
until finally one Of the sons
Of the house was glad to exchange II
for two diamond bracelets and breast
pin. 1t changed hands several times
later for few pounds. until It came
into the possession Of John Bolton of
who had the canvas
cleaned. A year or so ago an art ex-
pert was commissioned to inspect and
report on the picture. He at once pro-
1t to be a genuine vandyke.
Raphaeps famous picture, "The Mas
sacre of the Innocents," which had been
lost for centuries, was found two or
three years ago in the cottage OF a
widow living at Como. Italy. The wild
ow was absolutely ignorant of its VAL
ue and would gladly have parted with
It for the equivalent Of 5-pound note,
She has since received and declined an
offer of $4,000 for her picture.
Rubens Visitation" was handed
over to the proprietor Of an old curios-
ty shop at Rheims to French art ex-
pert in exchange for a couple Of Louis
XIV. armchairs and 18th century cof-
Ter, and he thought he had distinctly
got the better Of the bargain. His dis
gust may be imagined when he learned
ater that he had parted with a picture
worth at least $4,000 for three pieces
of furniture.
A canvas by Romney, valued at not
less than $4,000. was sold at Salem
auction 80 years ago for a few dollars,
and was discovered long after in
New Jersey cottage regarded as so
much worthless lumber, an "Entomb-