The Barnes Foundation has discovered two secret sketches of Paul Cézzane hidden at the reverse side of two of his watercolor paintings.
Conservationists from the foundation were the first ones to spot the two unfinished works of the French artist. The two paintings called "The Chaine de l'Etoile Mountains" (1885-86) and "Trees" (1900) were undergoing paper conservation treatment, when the conservationists found the secret sketches.
Barnes Foundation officials said that it is not the first time that the two paintings were taken out of their frames. However, as the back of the painting was covered with brown paper, no one knew that there would be more on the other side of the paper.
The brown paper was quite acidic, and the conservationists wanted paper free from acid. When they took out the brown paper, they found the hidden sketches.
One of the paintings was done in watercolor, while the other one was in charcoal. Experts believe that Cézzane often worked on both sides of the paper, but there was no reason to see if any work existed on the reverse side of these paintings.
On the reverse side of "Trees," conservationists found a thorough depiction of houses but without color. On the other painting, the conservationists found that Cézzane started sketching trees with pencil and in color; however, it was difficult to understand what it represented as the center of the painting was not finished.
Martha Lucy, consulting curator of the Barnes Foundation and an assistant professor at the Drexel University, revealed that Dr. Albert Barnes purchased the two paintings in 1921 from Leo Stein, who was an American collector. Lucy also said that the paintings were purchased for $100 each in 1921.
"What Barnes probably didn't know was that in purchasing these two watercolors from Stein, he had actually acquired four works by Cézanne," said Lucy.
Visitors and students will get the opportunity to see the two new paintings from Apr. 10 to May 18 this year. The paintings will be on display at the second floor classroom of the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. The paintings will be framed in a two-sided frame, which will allow the viewer to see the originals as well as the hidden and unfinished works of the artist.
After May 18, both the paintings will return to their original site at Room 20 of the Collection Gallery.
