The recovery of artwork allegedly stolen from Beverly Hospital last week is sending ripples through Cape Ann's artistic community, with local artists and other residents concerned about hundreds of works in the custody of Northeast Health System since it took over Addison Gilbert Hospital more than a decade ago.
A week ago today, Groveland police raided the home of Paul Galzerano, 56, of 281 Main St. in that community, and recovered art and antiques valued at more than $200,000 allegedly taken from Beverly Hospital. The recovered works include a seascape by Rockport artist Stanley Wingate Woodward (1890-1970).
Beverly Hospital officials remain mum on the incident and would not reveal details of the missing artwork.
"We recently became aware that there were some items missing from Beverly Hospital and we have been working with the Groveland Police Department in an effort to recover those items," said Charles "Chip" Payson, vice president of external affairs for Northeast Health System, which is parent company to Addison Gilbert and Beverly hospitals since the 1994 merger.
"Unfortunately," Payson added, "it appears that this matter may involve a former employee. We are cooperating fully with the authorities and cannot comment further on an ongoing investigation."
The items were taken four years ago, but the thefts were not initially reported to the Beverly Police and was investigated privately. The news became public through reports of police action in Groveland last week.
Galzerano, who pleaded not guilty in Haverhill District Court to six counts of receiving stolen property, is free on $1,000 cash bail and is due in court Nov. 4.
Galzerano, a former associate vice president of staff services at the hospital, oversaw a $60 million renovation of Beverly Hospital between 2003 and 2006, according to court documents.
Hospital officials said 28 paintings were missing, including the two seized during the Groveland raid, according to the police report. The artist of the second painting has not been made public.
Groveland Police Chief Robert Kirmelewicz said the hospital will get the items back when the matter is resolved.
As the news of the recovered property spreads among Cape Ann art circles, several residents have wondered whether the Woodward painting originally came from Addison Gilbert Hospital, which was founded in 1897.
The hospital has been presented with some 300 pieces of artwork over the years, and the reports of the theft has prompted some local residents to worry about the fate of Addison Gilbert's artistic legacy.
"I think there's a great ripple of concern about these paintings," said Ann Fisk, an artist and art historian. She added that it would not surprise her if the stolen — now recovered — Woodward painting was originally at Addison Gilbert Hospital. One of the TV news clips from the story showed a box labeled "Addison Gilbert Hospital" being removed from Galzerano's house.
A longstanding Cape Ann tradition — at least until the time of the merger — held that artists or residents would donate artwork to the hospital as a thank-you for services rendered, in memory of family member, or as a gift from an estate.
The jewel of the Addison Gilbert collection is a painting by 19th-century Luminist painter Fitz Henry Lane of Gloucester, whose art sells for millions of dollars on auction. The scene is of Gloucester Harbor, which has been on loan to the Cape Ann Historical Museum for nearly half a century.
Beverly Hospital representatives told Groveland Police that the value of the Woodward painting was around $200,000. But that may be an inflated value when his artwork and those of his colleagues of equal or higher esteem sell in the range of $15,000 to $50,000.
Michael March of Blackwood March Auctioneers said Woodward auction records are in the range of $10,000 to $15,000, while many sell for a few thousand dollars.
"From the point of view of market value, people usually look at works that sold publicly at auction," he said.
Carol Linsky, executive director of the Rockport Art Association, said the highest bid for Woodward's work at an RAA auction was $17,000 for a very large painting. Woodward, who became a member of the RAA in 1939, was well known in Rockport, where he lived on South Street. He also was known for being friends with Hollywood film actress Bette Davis, who stayed at his house when she visited, according to several local artists.
Linsky also wondered if any of the 28 missing paintings and antiques came from Addison Gilbert Hospital, which had a rich inventory of both.
"That has been a question as to what would happen to the collection with the merger," she said. "In its totality, that collection has to be worth a lot of money."
March, an appraiser and auctioneer, said this incident should serve as a reminder to art owners.
"Someone who is knowledgeable about their collection has photographs of the paintings, he said. "It's like a fingerprint — you can more or less prove, once it is displayed again, that it was your property.
"This is a cautionary tale to people," he said. "If you have valuable paintings at home, have them photographed and appraised."
Don Mosher, an artist, Cape Ann art historian and former curator at Rockport Art Association, said he has always been impressed with the art collection of Addison Gilbert Hospital.
"It shows what a caring place it is that people would donate their artwork," he said. "As grateful as I am for the hospital, and I've thought about giving them a painting, I think I'd give them a print now."
Gail McCarthy can be reached at gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com
