Great Historical Find -- Newspaper Archives

Great Historical Find

San Antonio Light newspaper, Aug. 16, 193l, Sunday.
Miss [Adina]de Zavala, of the city, daughter and president of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and one of the leading spirits in the movement for the preservation of historical spots and articles having a connection with the early days of the state, has just made a discovery of great value in the field of art.
She has returned from a trip over Texas, where she visited various historical spots and brought with her five oil paintings in an excellent state of preservation that date back to the time of Reubens, Corregio and other masters of the great art period of centuries ago.
Miss De Zavala will not divulge where she accured [sic] the priceless treasures, but says she got them within 500 miles of San Antonio in the ruins of an old mission. They are covered with the dust of ages, but through it all may be discerned the master stroke of the artist's brush, and the antiquity of the relics can not be questioned. Each picture is a genuine treasure of art and if they could talk what a history they could tell!
"The pictures were found," she said, "in a closet of an old mission church, in which I was rummaging about for curios, little expecting, however, to make such a discovery as I did. The mission is located not over 500 miles from here, but I do not care at present to tell its exact location. The paintings are all more or less damaged by age and neglect, but as you can see," she continued to the reporter, "it is still apparent that they are all works of art. In none of them are the signatures dicernable, but one of them seems to be that of Reubens and competent critics declare that it is of the Reubens school. Two others are believed to be by Corregio, who was one of the leading painters in the period of 1493-1534. However, I think I shall take them to New York to experts and have them catalogued. I know that they are very valuable and are even of greater importance than the famous Alamo bell, recently unearthed and restored to its original resting place. One of the paintings bears the date of 1621. I may be able to learn more when they are cleaned, as I have done nothing to remove the dust from their face, but am waiting until I can hear from experts."
The reporter was shown the pictures and was able to see for himself that they are art relics of great value. Miss De Zavala does not intend to allow the public to see the pictures for some time yet, or not until after they have been properly cleaned and classified. The Daughters of the Republic will then put them on exhibition, possibly at the fair.
Two of the pictures are painted on wood, with a lattice work on the back to prevent them splitting up. One of these is styled "The Crucifixion" and the other represents "The Visit of the Wise Men to the Manger." These are supposed to be by Reubens and show amply the evidence of a master touch. They are about 24 inches square.
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The other three are much larger and are done on canvas. The largest represents "The Resurrection" and is encased in a gold frame. It has been retouched and varnished of late years, but the original beauty was not spoiled. The smaller one of the canvas paintings is in a very bad state of preservation and represents "The Crib at Bethlehem." The other representing "Christ Bearing the Cross" is fairly well preserved, but is covered with a thick coat of dust and grime.
The antiquity in appearance, however, of these valuable old relics makes them all the more valuable to a lover of the historical and they are a perfect feast for the art conneusieur. The pictures are brought to this country through Mexico whither they were imported by the early Franciscan fiars and are priceless treasures that if they could speak could unfold history that would astonish the world.
As it is, they will go down as one of the greatest finds of recent years and the lucky possessor is jubilant and would not part with them for any sum of money that could be offered.

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