The Cordova daily times., 1923-01-25
FINE CORRECCI0, LONG LOST, IN
 N,Y.CHURCH

NEW YORK, Jan. 25. - In the fif- teenth century the world of art was thrown into consternation. One of the famous Correggio paintings in the series of four of Nativity" had disap- peared from It's gallery in Europe. Whether the canvas had been stolen or lost or destroyed could not be def initely established, despite thorough search by the best investigators. Their search was fruitless.
 Thirty-five years ago Henry Hyams, Brooklyn art dealer, attended an auc- tion sale at Brooklyn warehouse. A group of dusty pictures was offered. Hyams made a nominal bid, When no one volunteered a higher offer the pictures were "koncked down. to him.
 Beauty Revealed
 Hyams had long been an art collec- tor. He cleaned the pictures he pur~ chased, but one of them, because or it's beauty and a something holy and sacred about it, excited his fancy. He worked on the canvas, and under his skillful handling the picture slowly turned out to be a real work of art" Slowly and laboriously Hyams brought out new lights, new colorings, new shadings on the canvas. An then he gasped. For the painting proved to be a Correggio Hyams was aston ished at his find. He refused to be- lieve his own discovery and called in art experts. They came with mlcros- copes, carefully examined the picture and then shared Hyam's awe and wonder. The picture was Correggio.
 Two other pictures of the group hang in the Parma and Dresden gal 1eries and are valued at $100,OO0 each. The third was destroyed by fire. The fourth, which is considered the most valuable of the lot, came to light under such novel circumstances.
 Given to Church
 A year ago Hyams died. The DIG ture was his chief treasure. His son, Henry Hyams, Jry to whom It was willed, gave it to the Church Of the Assumption, where it hangs today.
 During my fathers lifetime he could never be persuaded to part with the picture, although he frequently loaned it for exhibition purposes, said Hyams. "When he died and the picture came into my hands l decided that, as he had preferred it to all ot the other paintings in his possession, would give it to some public lnstl- tuition as memorial to him. "Sinco it is a church painting 1 felt that I should select some church, and, although neither my father nor my self was a Catholic, I felt that the na- ture of the painting made it more adapted to the Catholic Church than any other and for that reason decided upon the Church of the Assumption.
 Believed Genuine
 Father William B. Farrell, rector of the cnurCn, ana niiiloSl 't Soii4iN1' seur. is fully convinced as to the gen uinenesq of the painting, but intends to have other experts familiar with the works of the great Correggio eXamne it.
 "It is a very beautiful picture'' he declared. q believe it is a CorregGlo. I base my judgment on the color treat ment and also on the grouping There are certain lights and shades about the angels who form the background of the picture, and the infant Jesus is pictured in a way characteristic ol Correggio I fell fully confident that the canvas is genuine, but purely tor the purpose of definitely identifying a historic work of art I intend to have it passed upon by experts who are more familiar with the work of this master"