The San Francisco call., 1907-02-11
IoRestore Famous Painting
Artists Plan Travelling Gallery
By Hanr1a Astrup Larsen

Among the pictures at Mark Hopkins
which were saved at the cost of being
mutilated by being cut out of their
frames at the time of the IRE last April
was the Constance de Beverly, by Toby
Rosenthal. The famous painting was
one Of the best works Of the artist IT
was painted many years ago to the or
der of Irving NJ. Scott. The subject is
the scene from "Marnion," in which oc-
ours the trial of Constance. Irving
Scott had particular fancy for the
scene, and not only suggested the
theme, but also many of the details.
The painter spent about six years over
his picture, laboring with painstaking
fafthfulness to make every detail per-
feet In historical accuracy
An interesting insurance question
arises in connection with the picture,
which is now the property of Mrs.
Scott. Being extremely valuable it was
naturally very heavily insured The
terms were that in case it sustained
any injury whatever the full insurance
could be collected. the picture then be-
coming the property of the company.
The Scott family, however, refused to
part with the picture, which, though
injured, is still of great intrinsic value,
besides being dear to them for senti-
mental reasons, having been a favorite
of Mr.. Scott's aud being first hung in
his house on Rincon Hill. They have
therefore accepted the partial settle
ment offered by the insurance company
and they will have the picture restored.
1t is now at the home of DR.. Knight
Smith. Mrs Smith was Miss Scott be-
fore her marriage.
IT is probable that the Constance de
Beverly will be sent to Europe to be
restored by experts under the super
vision OF Rosentha1 himself, who has
expressed a wish to that effect. It will
require very delicate handling, for, in
addition to being ripped out of the
frame, ii has other serious injuries. In
the shoulder of the principal figure
there is square about four inches long
and two inches wide where the paint is
loose from the canvas. 1t will prob
ably need to have a hole made in the
canvas and glue poured in between the
canvas and the paint. Artists claim
that there is no one in this country to
whom work of such delicacy can be
safely intrusted, but that it must be
sent to Europe, where there are firms
which employ experts and make spe-
cialty of restoring pictures.
The vicissitudes of the Constance de
Beverley recall the story of another
picture of Toby Rosenthal, the Elaine.
Old timers in San Francisco will tell
the story of how the Elaine, then on
exhibition in this city, was stolen by
being cut out of the frame and carried
away. 1t was finally recovered, but
the boIdness of the robbery made a
nine days wonder which the great
value of the picture served to intensity.
Toby Rosenthal last visited his ma
tive city in 1879, when he took part in
the midsummer jinks OF the Bohemian
Club, making a number Of sketches of
the event. He is now living In Munich,
The Bohemian Club in erecting its
new building, which is to be at the
corner of Post and Taylor streets, Will
not forget the artists. There will be
a large jinks hall. capable of seating
a thousand people, and 1T will be at the
disposal of the artists for exhibitions.
II will be built with this in view
and will be arranged in such way
that there will be a good light for pic
lures. The exact plan is not yet deter
mined upon.
OF the pictures which covered every
available inob of wall space in the old
club rooms but few were saved and
these are mostly portraits. Perhaps
the most irreparable loss is the many
cartoons made by famous men and
commemorating some special occasion,
for these have a spontaneity and charm
seldom seen in works that are made
for lucre. One of the first EFFORTS OF
the club will be bent toward acquiring