New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-14
NAY BE A RAPHAEL.
His Last Sapper" Thought To Be
in Safe Deposit Faults Here.

In the minds OF the few persons who have been
permitted 10 picture that has been for the
last six years in the vaults of the Lincoln SAFE
Deposit Trust Compan:- in 42d-st. there is the
belief that if is an art treasure Of the Middle
Ages in the shape of a painting by Raphael of
THE Last Supper" The picture is the property
OF Mrs James O'Hara, If New-Oresns. by whom
1t was given 10 Samuel O. Trudel, OF No. 4'f Sth-
ave. this city. SELL and attempt Will soon
be made TO have it taken to Europe and Its au-
thenticity proved.
The canvas has had unusual history II II
is the original hy Raphael IL was painted in lol'
snd lost ten years later in the sachihs
OF Rome by the Spanish. History supplies these
facts. About one hundred and fifty years ago It
is said 10 have come into the possession of n
Spanish sailor who made his home near New
Orleans II handed down in his family until
cne of his descendants, on diving, gave II TO an
old negro woman who had tended him in his last
Illness She knew nothing Of its value. and cut
the canvas from the frame and tackled it on a
piece of board to make a fire screen.
About thirty-fve years ago James O'Hara- a
house painter, Orleans. made some repairs
about the old wonan's cabin and took the picture
In payment. While he. that time, knew nothing
Of paintings. he began an investigation and be
came convinced that the picture was a Raphael
snd was. indeed, the famous painting lost for
nearly four hundred years
He had the canvas cleaned and vanished, but
unfortunately, it done by amateur. and
tn places the coloring almost obliterated
Then the canvas in a, bad condition from age
and hard usage. and, to preserve it, Mr. O'Hara
had il backed with heavy linen. Artists consider
this particularly unfortunate, as 1t was made
much more difficult determine the texture of the
original canvas 1t is said, however, to be the
Eaxed cloth which used in the time of Ra-
phaeI.
On the back, also, was an outline drawing Of the
picture as it was afterward painted The original
canvas had a dark blue back. and this the
layout done in white chalk All this, Of
course, covered up by Mr.. OEara-
When oHsra became convinced Of the author
shdp Of the painting, he began negotiations to sell
Il. New Orleans banker agreed 10 take the plct-
ure TO Europe have verified, and to place $4,000
IN a bank in New-Orleans for O'FIara in case the
picture was not back by certain day oHara
thought $4,000 was not enough He wanted Slo0Vo.
and he haggled until the'banker died Then 0Hara
died
Six years ago Mr.. Trudell went 10 Ne"-Orleans'
snd while there visited Mrs. O'Iara, and brought
the picture back with him. In the first three years
that he had 1t here he tried to sell it. Since then
other affairs have occupied his time. but now Mrs.
O'Hara thinks it time something was done, and
further attempts being made to verify 'he
picture and sell it The canvas. which is now
mounted on stre3cher and framed, is about three
by four feet In the lower left hand corner Mr..
Trudeu thought he discovered traces of a date.
He oiled it carefully to bring the colors and
e 6S s@f n @f ph0 Sa S the letters MDV
ing the date when it is know gI that Raphae 'io
In addition to this the folds of the robe Of one
of the Apostles he has traced Rafael fecit While
their Il work. Raphael did sign at least two Of bis
paintings in this way. In hts picture OF The Mas
sacre OF the Innocents'' his name is found In the
folds of the turban of of the women. In an
other case he put his signature in the twists or
staff held by one of his characters
Another point in favor of Mr. TTudells eonten.
is picture was evidently not finished
BY the original painter but was touched up later
BY another hand. It is known that when Raphael
died in 1870, he left many unfinished paintings
and some Of his best pupils did the fnal work on a
number of these The painting Of The Last Sup
per'' is supposed be of those so treated
Artists and art dealers are agreed that there is
no one in this country who is competent to say
whether or not so-called old master Is genuine,
and Mr. Tf.dell has been advised that he must take
she nicf1Ire TO London Paris to have the QueS-
ton of its authenticity settled. He is now seeking
10 have this done.