Read Online H.J. Gaudreau - Betrayal in the Louvre by H.J. Gaudreau - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: H.J. Gaudreau
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XVI existed, that of a cousin. It had been stored in a wooden tube, the acids in the wood slightly damaging the leather over time. The owner had been particularly astute in national politics and fled to Germany in time to salvage his fortune before the revolution. He never returned to France.
The second reason a French Royal Patent is so valuable is its sheer beauty. The Patent on display in Berlin is breathtaking for its detail and technical artistry. Portraits of each of the major members of the royal family and the pertinent family branch are rendered with remarkable realism. Art historians and other scholars from throughout Europe have used this particular document as the source document for identifying specific individuals in various artworks across the continent.
The Patent in the Cobo Center’s vault was extraordinary in that the entire Royal line was illustrated. Each member of the royal line had their portrait painted in miniature. The historical value, should it prove authentic, was astonishing. The scroll was bordered with a bright, highly detailed painting of lilies and the central family tree was a beautifully done apple tree, a beheaded serpent lay at its roots and a sword dripping of the serpent’s blood hovered over the body.
Monsieur LeDuc tended to focus his dissertation on Eve, to the exclusion of the men around the room. He was in his element. The excitement of the original discovery had not dissipated and he was obviously flirting with her.
“The sword, she is important. She represents the beginning of the French monarchy. She is not the Holy Sword of the Redeemer. No, she is the Sword of Charlemagne. This represents the destruction of evil, represented by the serpent. And the tree, it represents the royal line. See how it takes its glow from the sword,” LeDuc continued.
Jim and Eve were then pressed to tell how the Patent came into their possession. “There’s really not much we know.” Jim said. He then explained that his Great grandfather had fought in the First World War and had returned from Europe with the item. It had been kept in a box in his Mother’s house for years and after his sister had taken over the home he had moved the box to his own home.
As the evening wound to a close David Shilling leaned forward in his chair and locked eyes with each of them, “You know Eve, Jim, you have an amazing find there. It could make you very wealthy. But, and this is a ‘big but’; you’re going to have to get this thing verified before you can sell it. It could be a fake. Even though you’ve had it for eighty years someone could have fooled your Great grandfather.”
Jim was stunned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Who would do something like that and why?” asked Eve. Shilling turned to Eve, “Oh Eve, it happens all the time. Just think of P.T. Barnum and his famous Mermaid. Many, many of the items in his, so called “museum” were out and out lies and forgeries. Even his famous saying “there’s one born every minute” wasn’t really said by him!
They both started to laugh. Then Jim grew serious, glancing at LeDuc to ensure he wasn’t listening he said; “I guess you’ve got a good point David. But isn’t LeDuc’s verification good enough?”
David turned serious. “No, LeDuc is an expert in French historical items, but this is beyond his level. I’m not so sure LeDuc is the man for this job.”
Jim thought that over for a moment. “I agree, just in the short time we’ve dealt with him I get the impression he’s a…well, let’s just say a bit over the top and leave it like that.”
Eve leaned forward and lowered her voice as well, “I agree, LeDuc isn’t my first choice. Do you have anyone you could recommend to validate this thing?”
“Well, all I can think of is a professor of French history I know over at the U,” Shilling said, referring to the
The second reason a French Royal Patent is so valuable is its sheer beauty. The Patent on display in Berlin is breathtaking for its detail and technical artistry. Portraits of each of the major members of the royal family and the pertinent family branch are rendered with remarkable realism. Art historians and other scholars from throughout Europe have used this particular document as the source document for identifying specific individuals in various artworks across the continent.
The Patent in the Cobo Center’s vault was extraordinary in that the entire Royal line was illustrated. Each member of the royal line had their portrait painted in miniature. The historical value, should it prove authentic, was astonishing. The scroll was bordered with a bright, highly detailed painting of lilies and the central family tree was a beautifully done apple tree, a beheaded serpent lay at its roots and a sword dripping of the serpent’s blood hovered over the body.
Monsieur LeDuc tended to focus his dissertation on Eve, to the exclusion of the men around the room. He was in his element. The excitement of the original discovery had not dissipated and he was obviously flirting with her.
“The sword, she is important. She represents the beginning of the French monarchy. She is not the Holy Sword of the Redeemer. No, she is the Sword of Charlemagne. This represents the destruction of evil, represented by the serpent. And the tree, it represents the royal line. See how it takes its glow from the sword,” LeDuc continued.
Jim and Eve were then pressed to tell how the Patent came into their possession. “There’s really not much we know.” Jim said. He then explained that his Great grandfather had fought in the First World War and had returned from Europe with the item. It had been kept in a box in his Mother’s house for years and after his sister had taken over the home he had moved the box to his own home.
As the evening wound to a close David Shilling leaned forward in his chair and locked eyes with each of them, “You know Eve, Jim, you have an amazing find there. It could make you very wealthy. But, and this is a ‘big but’; you’re going to have to get this thing verified before you can sell it. It could be a fake. Even though you’ve had it for eighty years someone could have fooled your Great grandfather.”
Jim was stunned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Who would do something like that and why?” asked Eve. Shilling turned to Eve, “Oh Eve, it happens all the time. Just think of P.T. Barnum and his famous Mermaid. Many, many of the items in his, so called “museum” were out and out lies and forgeries. Even his famous saying “there’s one born every minute” wasn’t really said by him!
They both started to laugh. Then Jim grew serious, glancing at LeDuc to ensure he wasn’t listening he said; “I guess you’ve got a good point David. But isn’t LeDuc’s verification good enough?”
David turned serious. “No, LeDuc is an expert in French historical items, but this is beyond his level. I’m not so sure LeDuc is the man for this job.”
Jim thought that over for a moment. “I agree, just in the short time we’ve dealt with him I get the impression he’s a…well, let’s just say a bit over the top and leave it like that.”
Eve leaned forward and lowered her voice as well, “I agree, LeDuc isn’t my first choice. Do you have anyone you could recommend to validate this thing?”
“Well, all I can think of is a professor of French history I know over at the U,” Shilling said, referring to the
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