BELMONT — A previously unknown painting by noted Indiana impressionist T.C. Steele has been found hidden behind another canvas.
The unusual find occurred after the Indiana State Museum shipped one of its paintings by the late artist to a Chicago art conservator for cleaning. Conservator Barry Bauman removed a painting titled "The Old Garden" from its frame to be re-stretched and found the other painting beneath it.
The landscape dated 1890 depicts two buildings, a clock tower and a small, female figure wearing a red bonnet. It was revealed during a news conference Wednesday at Steele's early 1900s studio near the Brown County community of Belmont.
Baumann says discovery the painting "was like a King Tut discovery, for me."
