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Ellsworth Woodward was head of the art department at Tulane University's H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial School in the early 1900s. His oil on canvas titled 'Bay St. Louis' measures 12 by 9 1/4 inches. Image courtesy Neal Auction Co. and LiveAuctioneers.com Archive.

Ellsworth Woodward paintings discovered in high school library

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Ellsworth Woodward was head of the art department at Tulane University's H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial School in the early 1900s. His oil on canvas titled 'Bay St. Louis' measures 12 by 9 1/4 inches. Image courtesy Neal Auction Co. and LiveAuctioneers.com Archive.
Ellsworth Woodward was head of the art department at Tulane University’s H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial School in the early 1900s. His oil on canvas titled ‘Bay St. Louis’ measures 12 by 9 1/4 inches. Image courtesy Neal Auction Co. and LiveAuctioneers.com Archive.

ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) – Books in a library might contain priceless knowledge, but the decor can sometimes also carry a hefty price tag.

That’s what Bolton High School officials found after discovering two paintings that had been in the school library for decades are worth about $150,000 each.

The paintings – two nature scenes by Ellsworth Woodward (American/New Orleans, 1861-1939) – were given to the school by its 1917 graduating class, according to a plaque on one of the paintings.

“They’re excellent works,” said Sara Fuhrer, a member of the school’s alumni association. “They’re very rare works.”

The alumni group helped get the pieces appraised by Robert H. McHarg, director of the fine Arts Gallery of New Orleans and a member of the International Society of Appraisers. He valued each at $150,000.

The Rapides Parish School District gave care of the paintings to the Alexandria Museum of Art on Tuesday.

“We needed to secure them until we have a facility (at Bolton) to hold them,” said Gary Jones, superintendent of Rapides Parish Schools.

The museum will house and display the pieces until the school can build a facility to protect them from theft and environmental damage.

Woodward was best known as one of the founders of the Newcomb College pottery coming out of the H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial School at Tulane University around the turn of the 20th century, according to the Louisiana State Museum Web site. The craftsmanship taught at Newcomb College at that time could be seen in the frames Woodward built for his two paintings at Bolton, Alexandria Museum of Art curator Catherine Pears said.

The paintings most likely will be on display in one of the galleries at the museum, Pears said.

“These are just beautiful additions to the museum,” Pears said. “We’ll be proud to hold them.”

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