A PICTURE MYSTERY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1856, 16 September 1913, Page 7

A PICTURE MYSTERY.

SUPPOSED OLD MASTER.

(By Telosraph.-NSpoeial Correspondent.) Auckland, September 15. A picture, believed to bo an "Old Master," llins been discovered ini tho possession of Mr. ID. Stewairt, of Koliimarama, and it has been sent Home for expp.rt opinion to bo passed upon it. It lias been locally pronounced to be a Constable. The picture camo into Mr. Stewart's possession about two years ago. Mr. Stewart, who has always taken a groat interest in art . and antiques, was present when_ Dr. Stopford' held a salo pricr to leaving Now Zealand for Australia. Among the articles for sale was a very old-looking picture, which had a reservo prico or £50 upon it. Dr. Stopford described it as a speculativo picture, and said it might be anything. Mr. Stewart' thought it might bo a Constable, and with a number of etchings and other curios ho bought it for a nominal sum. It hung hi his houso at Kohimaraina until, quite recently, _ an 1 artist friend paid Mm a visit. Directly tlio artist saw tlio picture ho came, to the conclusion that it was a very ancient piece of work, and after inspecting it closely with a glass formed' the opinion that it was undoubtedly a Constable. Tho picture was placed) in tho hands of an a.rt dealer' for shipment to England. Though not informed what tlio'picture was supposed to bo, luTremarked that it looked very like a Constable.,i On arrival in: England tho painting will be brought before. t)ho notice of export., judges and offered for salo. Tho picture; wlii,ch measures two feet by about 15 is a landscape. A largo tree on the right in. tho foreground admirably balai«;?s a mass of clouds through winch tlio sun is shining. Beneath tlio tree is a farm cart, two horses, and two figures. Thcro are other figures in the contra of tho picture, and in the background is tho towe'r of a cathedral. An especially fine feature of the picture is tho magnificent colouriiw of the sky. A 'well-known Auckland artist, who lias scon several genuine pictures by Constable, unhesitatingly expressed tlio opinion tliat tlio picture foundt was ono of that painter's works. . Constable's works, ho stated l , were unmistakable, and tho whole drawing and' composition of Sir. Stewart's picture pointed to it having bean tho work of a master mind. Canvas of a very fine texture is used for the painting, which has 'apparently been cut from its original frame and mounted on top of another oanva3. In view of this fact the artist suggested that it had 1 beon stolon many years ago and hidden, away, having subsequently passed to various owners as a geiiiuino Constable. Ho stated that tho picture would bo worth about £3000. but if it wa.s the'one that he suspected it to bo, its original owners no doubt would have no hesitation in paying up to £10,000 for it. However, tile experts in England would quickly, decide tile question.