South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-08-08
Treasure of Art
Found by Chance
BY ED MURPHY.

Among the most valued treasures of the art colec
ton now on exhibition Notre Dame art museum
is a Van Dyck portraying Christ the Cross for
which offers exceeding 100000 have been repeatedly
received by faculty from various American connois
seurs It is one Of the great triumphs from the
brush OF Belgian painter who donated
IT, in 1929 TO the Dominican OF Antwerp at the
dying request OF his father. the current and
buried in the centuries of European dis
it has history quite as vivid and appealing
the picture itself.
GIFT TO FIR. SORIN
It came into the possession of Notre Dame in 1885,
gift to FIR SOrin the occasion OF his eighth visit
to France Nine Guillemont widow OF the one uhe
project Paris presented II the then Notre Dame
president in memory Of her dead son who had been
Sorn's college companion Neither the donor nor the
priest of the immense value Of the art work.
Nine Guillemont having parted with what both be
Iieved a somewhat mediocre portrait Of Napoleon l.
which was priced exceptionally by the Paris project
On Notre Dame Sorin turned it over
10 prof Edwards in charge Of the museum. Two
years passed during which time the painting had de-
Perforated vsbly caking and cracking to make 1t
most unsighty ornament for an art gallery
FINDS MYSTERIOUS PICTURE.
Gregori, famous patron of the local uni
versy who later died pauper in the streets of Paris
was then of the department Of Notre Dame
and he was engaged 10 retouch the canvas While
pouring the chemicals it, the fabric began to fraz
the edge. and bulge in the center, unusual
in the process of restoration Gregor
fully examined cloth his amazement found
another beneath. Pulling off NapoeonS portrait
revealed dim outlines of cross the faded features Of
Christ. Mary Magdeline's hair. Immediately the
Italian artist set out to restore the painting which
eventually brought out in its present clarity.
OFFER $4,000.
Even after this discovery university authorities
no intmation it's enormous value, although the
of Gregori's finding spread far and wide.
Finally in 1912 the old masters in charge
of the Frck collection Philadelphia, after thorough
study of the canvas, pronounced 1t Van Dyck mas
terpece making at the same time standing offer Of
900 for the work Later valuations have risen above
this figure. although offer induce Notrc Dame
10 sacrifice the work of
Originally in the chapel Of the Dominican Of
Antwerp 1t remained there just 20 years lf:or
pletion by Van Dyck when was seized by a band o.
those uncertain times when the forces
aged the Belgians the southwest and the Of
the United Netherlands sandwiched the Spanish prov
ince on the northeast II most common occurrence
the dssolute forces Spanish tyranny pfcr the
very people they were supposed to be defending.
The brought Madrid with the
thief sold IL at insignificant price Don Miguel
Cortozo, grandee of Spain, and enthusiastic
collector 1t hung in his castle for almost century
and half. when it stolen by Comte Driaud.
with him Paris.
Not knowing its worth he later gave it to Heuten-
ant IN his brigade who had the generals life
at Austerlitz The young soldier Guil!emont welded
the brush himself at times he recognized
the excellence OF the painting. Fearing the
canvas exposed in his home. he overlad it with a
cheap portrait of the Napoleon, of which
endless varieties sale at that time in France.
For some unknown reason the owner revealed
the true nature OF the portrait after he attained
afhuence the project of Paris the secret died
with him, not to be discovered till 1897
The picture was retouched again in 1905 by Dom
Gregory Gerrer now in charge Of the department OF
NOtre Dame, who brought out the painting in clearer
lines 1t represents Christ hanging the after
his death agony with Mary Magdene weepin, at he
Installations of the passion
of the Savior to be in America.