What treasures are crannied away in a basement? The garage? A steamer trunk from a great-grandparent’s grand tour of Europe, opened after years and found crammed with collectibles? Or that usual suspect, the attic?

A Cincinnati, Ohio, attic produced more than your average trove. Up there at the top of the house was discovered not one, not two—oh, let’s cut to the chase—80 works by Thomas Corwin Lindsay, which apparently had been stored there for more than 70 years.

Woman leaning on stone wall

Farmer with walking stick

Lindsay (1845-1907) was a Cincinnati artist known for painting landscapes and animals. He was one of many Americans who studied at the Düsseldorf (Germany) Academy, which arose from German Romanticism. The academy, with its emphasis on “plein art painting”—painting landscapes on site—contributed much to the Hudson River School.

Lindsay’s work was shown at the Cincinnati Industrial Exposition, which ran from 1870 to 1883 to showcase local manufacturing, art and the city’s economy, and in 1896, at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Countryside

Cows in front of farmhouse and barn

Most of the attic find is being handled by Wooden Nickel Antiques, a Cincinnati antiques and art dealer, and will be shown at the Eisele Gallery of Fine Art.

According to the gallery’s owner, Douglas Eisele, who also specializes in restoration, the works have never been on the market. While their condition is characterized as “attic found,” some will only need minor touchup. Others need to be stretched.

Seated figure

Cows in pasture

Some of the paintings are of the Ohio and Kentucky countryside. Others show historic sites. A letter of authentication will be provided with any that are unsigned.

So come spring, you might consider cleaning your attic. Who knows what you’ll find.

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