I'm surprised the Met didn't see this as a development opportunity. If
this guy was rich, isn't there a good chance he's got rich offspring?
Maybe you could try to contact an heir or heiress?

**************************************************************************
Mark Nielsen
Exhibit Designer/Preparator
University of Michigan Museum of Art
[log in to unmask]      313/647-2068

On Fri, 13 Jun 1997, John W. Nichols wrote:

> Dear Colleagues,
>
> While walking to work from the New York subway on a cold February day
> this year, I passed what looked like a painting peaking out from a pile
> of trash bags waiting to be picked up. I work with art museums and
> occasionally read about incredible discoveries found in dumpsters or
> flea markets. Should I stop to inspect it? I was dangerously close to my
> office and did not want to be spotted picking through the trash.However,
> the lure of hidden treasure was too great.
>
> To my amazement, it turned out to be a large and impressive portrait of
> a well to do gentlemen. Sadly, he had seen better times. The canvas was
> loose on one corner and there were three small punctures. Still the
> integrity of the painting was overpowering.
>
> I arrived at my office with my newly discovered treasure. Upon closer
> inspection, the back of the canvas revealed that the subjects name is
> Andrew Foster, Esq., age 76 years, and was painted in 1848 by the New
> York studio of William Jewett (1795-1873) and Samuel Lovett Waldo (1783-
> 1861). My brief research has since discovered that the subject was one
> of the city's wealthiest citizens. Also, the portraitist team is
> represented in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
>
> This is where my problems began. I can not afford the care that this
> painting requires. So, what should I do? Perhaps I could sell it. Wrong.
> The auction houses and galleries claim that there is no market for
> portraiture. I then offered it as a gift to The Metropolitan Museum of
> Art, but they were not interested because they have eight by Waldo and
> Jewett already. Several other local museums declined because of the
> expense of restoration ($3,500 minimum).
>
> Could someone please help me find a home for this wonderful orphaned
> painting?
>
> Sincerely,
> John Nichols
> Director of Museum Services
> The American Federation of Arts
>