Evening star., 1946-07-07
Former Art Dealer
Says He Transferred
Painting From Fogg
By the Associated Press

BOSTON, July 6,-The man who
SIX years ago transferred the long
missing painting depicting the Ru-
bens masterpiece Descent from the
Cross from Harvard's Fogg
Museum was identified tonight as
former Boston art dealer in
copyrighted story in the Boston
Globe
| The Globe identified the man as
| Richard l.. Rideout, now visiting in
Alexandra. Va, and quoted him as
saving that he was acting as agent
| for the paintings owner, Mrs. Jean
Bullitt Darlington of West Chester.
Pa, when he moved the picture from
| the Fogg Museum to a now defunct
Boston gallery.
Mrs. Darlington recently filed
100000 damage suit against Har-
ward for loss of the painting and
lew days ago the picture was re-
| turned TO the university anony-
| mously by man who said he bought
| the picture for $40 in what he be-
lieved was legitimate transaction.
The Globe said that Mr. Rideout
did not know how the picture dis
appeared after he transferred 1t
from the museum TO his gallery.
'Mr. Rideout, now in AleXar-
dria on visit TO his former wife.
Mrs, Virginia Rideout, at 1107
North Pitt street, last night con-
lrmed the Boston newspaper re-
port. He added that he had no
information beyond that He
told The Star he is now in the
| advertising business in New
Englandl
The Globe quoted Mr.. Rideout as
saying:
Il don't have any idea who took
it adding that he was perfectly
within my rights in transferring
the painting from Fogg to my gal
| leries lin l94o' and I was in no way
responsible for its disappearance"
Recommended Authorization.
The Globe told the story as
follows.
! Mr.. Rideout said he originally
suggested to Mrs Darlington that
she have the picture authenticated
and that Fo2g officials had recon-
mended him to her as an agent.
/ The former Boston art dealer
went to Philadelphia Art Museum,
where the painting was then hang
ing, to inspect it and on Mrs. Dar-
llnetons orders took 1t 10 Cam
bridge, where il was x-rayed at
Fogg Museum.
I The Globe quoted Mr Rideout as
saying that 1t was found not to be
an original, but copy by one of
the Flemish masters S followers. The
] original is now in the Antwerp
! Cathedral
I In June, 1910, according 10 the
Globe story, Fogg notified Mr. Ride
out that II had no facilities for
storing the painting and because of
/ mat he transferred it to the Grace
Horne Galleries, which ne owned
at that time.
Says He Had No Reply.
Quoting Mr. Rideout as saving
that ne contacted Mrs. Darlington
ana asked her if she wished to place
a price on the painting. the paper
aoded that he never received a replv
SO was never able to offer it for sale
, The Globe continued:
! The painting remained on exhibit
ton until 1912, when Mr. Rideout
left the galleries 10 go overseas and
1t then was transferred to the base
ment of the Boston Art Club, where
1t was stored with other pictures.
In l943, a service club took over
the basement of the building and
the pictures were taken out. but the
Descent From the Cross" was
missing
+. the Globe quoted Mr.. Rideout as
saving that he kept in touch with
Mrs. Darlington in the intervening
wears. but that the Whereabouts of
the picture was not revealed until
II was returned recently.
There has been no comment on
the Identity of the man who re-
turned the painting or where it had
been over the years and Mrs. Oar
llngton, who said she has spent
more than $4,000 in LAWYERS and
detectives fees in her search for the
picture, has demanded a fun in
Vest,gatlon of the disappearance.