Saturday, October 16, 2010

This and That by Margot Justes

The end of the week and beginning of the weekend should be celebrated, by the time Friday rolls around I need a complete break from my day job. The writing part is sublime and no breaks are needed.

I have this tradition, or what seems like a tradition by now, meet up with friends Friday evening at Barnes & Noble for coffee. Sometimes after coffee, we stop at Whole Foods to see what's new or walk around the strip mall. Complete and total relaxation.

Complete and total therapy. And all that can be had with friends and that cup of coffee.

On an another note, and it goes with 'this and that', the art world has been in the news again, this time with a possible lost and found treasure. A major one. A Michelangelo, no less. The article posted on www.Newyorkpost.com claims that it could be "the art find of the century".

If true, what an amazing discovery and what an amazing survival. Masterpieces are treasured and protected from light, cold, heat, moisture, all the elements that might damage it. And this one survived with the natural everyday elements for 27 years. Astounding.

It seems that a family in upstate New York had a painting hanging on the wall, at some point it got knocked down and wound up 'stored' behind the couch. And remained stored like that for 27 years. Known simply as 'The Mike' to the family, could in reality be Michelangelo's unfinished painting of Mary and Jesus.

There were suspicions that it might be a Michelangelo, but no one took the trouble to research further till 2003, when a retired Air Force Lt. Col. was told by his father to do some research.

The article further states that it will be difficult to prove the authenticity and most likely will be left to the experts. In the meantime it had been cleaned and restored by the family awaiting the final word. Yes or no? Is it the real thing or a copy? That answer is still pending.

The price you might ask-according to the article-if authenticated, it will be worth millions and millions of dollars.

Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris

6 comments:

Kaye George said...

I wonder how many people are moving the couch out from the wall, or diving to the backs of closets. Just in case. :)

Margot Justes said...

Kaye,
Many families are looking behind the couch and in the attic, and probably anywhere else a treasure could be lurking.
Margot

Morgan Mandel said...

If it's the real thing, that would make a nice comfortable retirement nest egg.

Wish I had something like that in back of my couch, instead of just dust.

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

Margot Justes said...

Morgan,
I have dust bunnies behind my couch too, they seem confortable there, so I don't disturb them.
Yes, it would be a lovely retirement package.
Margot

Deb Larson said...

Margot: Interesting topic! When my husband's mom died, we didn't find any precious paintings, but we did find a family heirloom in a paper sack full of cancelled checks from the 1970's - in the middle of the stack we discovered the Civil War discharge papers of Kurt's great, great, great grandfather. (did I put enough greats in that?) We found several other wonderful things too along the way when we dismantled the house. But none as precious as that!
DL Larson

Margot Justes said...

Deb,
What a marvelous find that certainly added to your family's history.
It is amazing what is hiding behind couches and in attics, fantastic treasure troves.

www.mjustes.com