Expert: Tom Riddolls M.A.C. - 12/17/2010

Question
My wife purchased a framed picture of a lady with a hat at a yard sale for $12.00 about 20 years ago.  A couple of years ago, I was going to reframe the picture.  I removed the frame and glass and found that very carefully concealed behind the picture, in a manner to perserve a charcoal picture, I found another original work, apparently in charcoal. It is most depressing and is of a human, seated on a bench curled  up in a very depressed pose.  My original thought was that it was of a man seated on a bench in a mental institution.  The signature is "Nick" and he is obviously a skilled professional.

I should mention that for over fifty years I have been in law enforcement and security and am aware of concealment techniques.  This original painting (or whatever)was without question intentionally concealed ... apparently for the purpose of transportation.  It is a mystery.

I do have a photograph of this work and would be happy to either email or snail mail it to you.

Answer
I would be interested in looking at this.  One of my sidelines is in art fraud and forgery and how it impacts conservation principles.  Obviously, the previous owner's identity is not known?

Send pictures to me at tomriddolls (at) gmail (dot) com.  Include the fronts and backs of both pieces and details of the charcoal drawing.

sounds interesting.

Tom