Montgomery Art History Mystery

     An art conservator from Atlanta is examining the huge canvas theater backdrop discovered hiding in plain sight in the Municipal Auditorium.

The Canvas backdrop showing Dexter Avenue in the 1850's.

The original lithograph from which it was drawn, perhaps
by someone who never even visited Montgomery.

     Larry Shutts is with the Atlanta Art Conservation Center, and he spent an hour examining it this morning. City workers found the canvas painting of Dexter avenue as it might have looked in the 1850's when the city hall was renovated. It had been hanging against a brick wall at the very top of the stage area since the 1960's. 

     After his inspection, Shutts said:

"It is surprisingly in good shape for a piece that was a functional artifact, something that was used on a daily basis back in the day..it's held up very well, good materials, good supplies, and surprisingly good storage conditions."

Montgomery city officials are trying to determine how---and where--- to preserve the hanging. They believe it was painted in the 1930's and was based on a lithograph from the 1850's. Shutts says it was likely created by a professional theater backdrop company using a lithograph from the 1850's, and the shipped to Montgomery.