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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-05-27 Forgotten painting rediscovered in Oakes mansion (WeekDay)ACC 981/yz5 WDir maY 2.7 , rig) orgotten pai rediscovered in Oakes mansi May be historically priceless Two mural -sized original paintings estimated to be over 50 years old were rediscovered recently by workmen restoring the roof of the Oakes mansion, formerly known as the Winter Club. The paintings, one an elliptical shape and one rectangular with the rough measurements of 7 feet by nearly twenty feet have a south Florida setting and are thought to be pictures of early North Palm Beach. Workers found the artwork walled up over a fireplace in the upstairs of the mansion as they were taking out a false ceiling. The estimated value of the paintings is unknown at this time, said Sharon Leiter, director .of the North Palm Beach Public Library, however, she said, the historical value is priceless in view of the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Village of North Palm Beach. Nancy Moore, reference librarian at the North Palm Beach Library said that the paintings are probably of the coastline of Lake Worth and of the Intracoastal areas of North Palm B each at the time when the area was just starting to be developed. Mrs. Moore said she knew the paintings were still hanging at the Oakes Mansion due to her previous THIS PAINTING estimated to be over 50 years old, was recently rediscovered by workmen who found it and another one measuring roughly 7 ft. by nearly 20 ft. behind a false ceiling on the upper floor of the Oakes Mansion. Mrs. Leiter agreed, pointing out the need for expert restoration of the paintings. "But we hope to have them ready for the 25th anniversary celebration so we can have an Open House and show people the renovations we've done here at the library." association with the building. She also x ernenther-s a chandelier that w us walled in with the paintings when the false ceiling was put in a number of years ago in an effort to make the building more energy efficient. "I have spoken with Mr. Charles Branch who has lived here quite some time and who was a friend of Harry Kelsey, the founder of this area. Mr. Branch said that the artist's name was Torno; he didn't know his first name. Mr. Torno was commissioned by Mr. Kelsey to do the paintings sometime during the twenties, probably about 1928." The Oakes Mansion was originally a country club built by Kelsey who developed Lake Park. It was the first building in what was to become the Village of North Palm Beach. Last year the building was declared by the State Department to be a national historic site. Betty Robin, local artist and art expert who is also co-founder of the Oakes Foundation, a non-profit group that seeks to preserve the mansion for future use as an arts center, has studied the two paintings and concluded that one artist, probably Torno, is responsible for both aintings, according to Mrs. Moore. "The sky, the water, the trees, are all similar, in both paintings. Also, on the boat that's painted in one of the pictures, you'll find the letters H-S-K, wich stands for Harry S. Kelsey. There are also the letters P-B-W-C painted into the setting. Mr. Branch said that stands for Palm Beach Winter Club," added Mrs. Moore. Brought over to the North Palm Beach Library in a dump truck, the works of art required six men to carry them in. Currently, they are leaning against the waif of the Library meeting room waiting for a decision to be made about what to do with them. "The frames look to be cypress and are in need of .attention, it's aproject that we will see through, Mrs. Moore commented.