The Washington times., 1913-09-09
EXPERT RESTORING
DIN OLD PAINTINGS
Pictures Supposed to Be From
Brush of Artist of Three
Centuries Ago.

Two pictures, supposed to be from the
| brush of a painter who lived nearly
three centuries ago. but so bedimmed sY
the rayages of time and skillful resto-
ration that II may take some time to
establish their authenticity. have lately
been brought to the attention Of Wash
irston connoisseurs, and Prof. Fred
erick L. ]. Boettscher, An artist and
chemist connected with the Smithsonian
Institution, has undertaken the work Of
restoring them ard tracing their his
tory.
The canvases are approximately eight
feet wide by nine feet high, and repre-
sent Adam and Eve in the Garden OF
Eden before and after the fall. AL
though the colors have lost much OF
r'sh have confused the outlines Of the
figures, there is ample evidence that the
pictures were done in q French monas-
terry.
Under Tree of Life.
In the first picture Adam and Eve are
represented ro beneath the tree Of life. the
man sitting while the woman stands be-
fore him with her right arm extended,
as II pointing out the beauties Of the
Garden. Two doves are billing in the
branches above their heads. while a
short distance away are lion and lion
ess half asleep. with rabbits, does and
other inonensive animals gambolinE
about them. e.
In the far backgr ound q river stretches
away toward the distant sea, and the
motif Of peace and serenity is enhanced
by every tint Of light and shade upon
the canvas.
The second picture is Of the same size
kh4H -
Adam and Eve are from the same
brush, but So changed II their counter
snce that II Is apparent they have pass
ed through the greatest tragedy Of all
time.
The woman's face bespeaks unfathom-
able anguish and remorse. and she cow
ers beneath the mans upraised arm,
which seems raised to shield her from
the Divine wrath, that In the form of
forked lightning from dark cloud
is written over with anguish. while be-
hind them the darkness has shut out
forever the Garden of Innocence.
No Trace Of Signature.
This second picture is the more strik-
ing Of the two. but unfortunately 1t is
not so well preserved as the other. In
many places the figures have little of
their original perfection. but the feet
Of the pair have not been greatly
mony Of the original artists skill.
There is. however, not the trace Of e
signature discernible on either canvas,
The most that can be learned Of the
pictures is that they were offered fos
sale at Dowl.ng's old auction rooms, at
Eleventh street and Pennsylvania ave-
hue northwest, thirty-five years ago
At that time they were rolled up, though
the marks around the edges showed
that they had long been framed.
When the pictures were put Up at
auction they were bought by the late
John Baier, who at that time conducted
hotel at Twelfth and d streets north
west. How much he paid for them no
stretched over rough frames and placed
in the hotel grill room, where they
hung for many years.
Went To Miss Baier.
At the death Of Mr.. Baier the pictures
passed to his daughter. Miss Amelia
Baier, who now lives at SO A street
northeast. Through Miss Baier they
came into possession Of Edward s.
Schmid. proprietor of the bird store at
~ Twelfth street northwest by whom
Miss Baier was at one time employed.
They are still the property of Mr..
Schmid. but he has turned them over
to Prof. Boettscher to be cleaned and
restored.
Whether they were painted by an
artist whose name has become immortal
OF by some gifted monk who nok lies
nameless in the dust has yet to be de-
termined. But that they are the work
of such an artist as Is seen but once in
a century Is apparent to every student
of painting who has seen them.