Year: 1875

Two superb Works OF Art Found


in an Iowa Howell - They Were


Torn From Their Frames in a


southern Mansion.


From the Dubuque Herald.l


Iti not generally known that Iowa
has the honor of ownership of two of the
Oldest and finest works of art in ex.
istence, connected with which is an in.
teresting and remarkable scrap of his.
tory. The year following the close OF
the war, DR.. ------, of Fort Dodge,
was called to visit a patient some dis.
tance in the country. He was con-
Quoted to rude cabin, and found the
patient to be soldier who had served
through the "late unpleasantness," and
had settled upon his bounty land. The
scene was one of squalor and des-
titution. In lieu of door to
the hovel, a heavy canvas swung
from the easement, and made a
feeble pretense of excluding wind and
weather from the miserable apartment.
The Doctor pushed aside the curtain and
entered the cherries cabin, prescribed
for the sick man, and was about to take
his departure when his attention was at
tracted to the canvass upon which were
the outlines and coloring of picture
too shadowy and indistinct in the dark
ened room TO furnish any definite idea OF
its merits or character, The doctor 8
curiosity was fully aroused, and on close
inspection great was his astonishment to
discover a masterpiece rejecting its glo-
ries over the forlorn scene of sickness
and obscurity. He at at once made
close inquiry into the history
Of the painting, and received in
answer the information that it
was one Of the trophies of Sherman s
March to the Sea" 1--WE are not aware
that General Fitzpatrick makes any men.
tion Of this great work in his recital of
the exploits OF that remarkable cam
paign.) In passing through the country
on that eventful march, the soldiers had
encountered what had evidently been
the palatial abode Of some wealthy aris-
tocrat of the South; now dismantled OF
all its costly adornments saving the pic.
lures which still hung within the silent
and deserted halls. Here Sherman and
his men luxuriously bivouacked fer the
night, and as they were about to resume
their march to the sea, on the following
morning, two Of the pictures were torn
from their stretchers, and deposited
in one of the soldiers knapsacks
as a souvenir Of the night they had
spent within the splendid home of fallen.
chivalry. The circumstance was soon
forgotten, and the pictures slowed away
with other ruseless relics of the rebellion,
until within few days OF the physician's
visit, in making a search for some means
to exclude the cold from the cabin, the
paintings we're unearthed, and put to
such base uses" as we have named.
The physician being Of Southern birth,
was deeply interested in the recital OF
their history, and by giving a couple of
India rubber blankets in exchange be-
came the lucky possessor of these
matchless gems of art. They were sent
to New York, cleansed and framed, and
attracted great deal Of attention in art
circles. After being on exhibition in
the above city for several months they
were returned to Iowa. The finest and
largest picture, which probably measures
10 by 8 feet in size, is evidently faithful
copy Of Valasquez's famous Spanish
painting of "A Boar Hunt in Padro.
The other is the celebrated work, Diana
and her Hunting Dog" The pictures
have been examined by we'll known con-
noisseurs of art, who have pronounced
them rare gems Of artistic merit and
beauty. Large sums have been offered for
them, but with the loyal spirit of true
Southerner, DR.. - has refused them
all, hoping that time and circumstance
would reveal their earlier history, and
that he would be able to restore the val.
liable paintings to their original owner.
But as so many years have elapsed, and
they are still enshrouded with the shadow
of time and mystery, Iowa will probably
continue to be the home of the two pic.
lures that have world wide renown.