Hidden Signature Found with IR on Newly Discovered 1910 Painting by California Impressionist Guy Rose
1. Hidden
Signature
Found
with
IR
on
Newly
Discovered
1910
Painting
by
California
Impressionist
Guy
Rose
A painting of French Haystacks done about 1910 by the California Impressionist
master painter Guy Rose, that hasn't been seen since about 1935, walked into my
lab today for an examination. The painting was in a private collection that, a
couple of months ago, has passed to heirs... who admit they don't know anything
about art and are not collectors. But they know that due diligence is part of the
background work as they settle the estate so they called me to give the painting a
thorough look over. I pulled it out of its frame for the first time since it was
framed (presumably in the 1930s) to make sure that a signature wasn't hid by the
rabbet... but no signature.
Then we looked at it with ultraviolet visible fluorescence and saw that it has never
been touched. This is a common diagnostic tool utilized in art conservation
laboratories and is essential due diligence for art collectors, dealers and curators
when inspecting artwork. The techniques and equipment can be learned and
utilized by anyone. For more on using a UV light to see previous restorations click
on this link. The painting has a bit of grime but is otherwise in very good original
condition.
Just for the sake of not leaving any stone unturned, we decided to look at the
painting with the infrared reflectometer. I believe that this is the only infrared
unit available to collectors (not in institutional labs) this side of Chicago. For
more on this technique click on this link. We were surprised and pleased to find
that there WAS a signature in the lower right corner! Evidently, Rose had painted
the picture and signed it... then later reworked the painting canceling out the
signature. I've seen it happen many times. The last painting in my lab that had
2. this situation was an Edgar Payne where the mountain scene had been changed
substantially. This particular signature is not as clear or easy to see as other
signatures that I have discovered over the years but here are the two photos of the
IR screen.
The "G" and the top of the "R" are missing because of the thickness of the paint.
The photo on the right has the signature reinforced so you can see it. Of course
the "s" is also not very well defined but you can see that it says "Guy Rose." The
style of the signature is often distorted with IR viewing.
The painting you see with your natural eyes is unsigned but on the back is a label
written by Orrin White outlining a bio of Guy Rose and there is the estate stamp
with Earl Stendahl and the written authentication by Ethel that this painting was
by her husband. Because of the extensive documentation on the back of the
painting (and also because of the painting technique of the brushwork and
palette), I don't think there is any doubt that Guy Rose painted this picture so the
revealed hidden signature may not add any value but it certainly adds a detail of
interest and of confirmation.
So, that’s about it. Reporting to you from Fine Art Conservation Laboratories
(FACL)... its all in a day's work
Scott M. Haskins,
805 564 3438
The infrared reflectometer
