Restoring Art - Antiquarian Society of Green Bay

With your help, the Green Bay-De Pere Antiquarian Society has collected many pieces of fine art and historical artifacts. Many of these pieces need to be restored to their natural condition, repaired, and preserved for future generations.

The Return of the Prodigal Son

The Mystery of "The Prodigal Son" aka "Hospitality":

One piece currently being restored is "The Prodigal Son", also known as "Hospitality". This is a rare Italian painting encased in an ornate Florentine frame. It is from the Baroque Period - approximately 250 years old, and it may have been done by the great Florentine artist, Andrea de Sarto or a contemporary - possibly a pupil. Unfortunately, that is all that is currently known about this beautiful, historic work of art. At this time, we are not sure who painted it, how the name became attached to it, or how it ended up in Green Bay, Wisconsin! At one time, it was owned by Fredereick G. Hall, former owner the of the Beaumont Hotel and placed in the hotel lobby until he died. Mr. Hall's estate then gifted it to the Brown County Public Library, and it was part of the collection purchased from the Library by the Antiquarian Society through the Cultural Heritage Community Campaign.

FOX11 TV News Green Bay recently highlighted the efforts to restore and identify the origins of this historical treasure piece:

GREEN BAY - Members of the Green Bay and De Pere Antiquarian Society hand delivered a painting to Bellin Health. They were hoping to uncover some answers about its past. They turned to the hospital's radiology team to try and find any secrets that lie beneath the oil painted surface... [Art Conservationist Tony Rajer] restored the painting in question after the antiquarian society purchased it in a lot of items from the Brown County Library several years ago. "The painting is probably several hundred years old it's one of our great artistic treasures here in the community," said Rajer... Rajer hopes x-rays might reveal who the artist is... "Our whole mission is preservation and conservation of artifacts and to keep them in the community for the community," said Carol Jones, antiquarian society member.

Rufus B. Kellogg Restoration:
Another historic piece of local significance is also undergoing the restoration process. Rufus B. Kellogg was a well known Green Bay, Wisconsin-area businessman who formed the Kellogg National Bank (now Associated Bank) and the Kellogg Library (now the Brown County Public Library). This artwork was also purchased from the Brown County Library collection. Recently, Fox11 WLUK-TV News of Green Bay ran a story on this restoration project:

GREEN BAY - You may not recognize the man in the portrait, but you will no doubt recognize the legacy he left behind. Rufus B. Kellogg lived in Green Bay in the late 19th century. He founded Kellogg National Bank, which would later become Associated Bank . He also started the Kellogg library, which would eventually become the Brown County Library . For decades a portrait of Kellogg collected dust at the library. Now, it is being restored....click here for the entire FOX11 WLUK-TV Rufus B. Kellogg paint restoration story, or scroll down and watch the Fox11-WLUK video below.

For the restoration and preservation of both paintings, the Green Bay-De Pere Antiquarian Society has engaged the professional services of Tony Rajer, Art Conservator. The restoration of both works will be completed by October 2010. In the meantime, Mr. Rajer has secured Antiquarian member volunteers to research the history and origin of the "The Return of the Prodigal Son" painting. On October 8, 2010, the research committee's findings will be reported as both restored paintings are unveiled at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay, WI.

Mr. Rajer is currently performing the work at the Neville Public Museum. Watch and listen to Mr. Rajer below as he discusses his work with CW Wisconsin and Fox11 WLUK-TV of Green Bay. More pictures of Mr. Rajer's excellent work are at the bottom of this page.

"Thank You" to Fox11 and CW Wisconsin for doing these stories. The above videos can also be viewed at the CW Wisconsin website and FOX11 WLUK-TV website. Many other pieces of the Green Bay-De Pere Antiquarian Society's art and historical artifacts can be viewed by clicking on the following links: Our Artifacts Heritage Set Artwork Gallery, and visit our "In the News" page for other news stories about the Green Bay-De Pere Antiquarian Society and our community work.

Here are some additional photographs of Mr. Rajer performing his work and discussing it with various community members, including Green Bay Major Jim Schmidt.

Please browse through our website for additional photographs and information:

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Restoring and Preserving the Artwork and Historical Pieces