Old painting with a hidden note

[RaceGirlRandi]

Hi recently while at a local weekend yardsale I acquired a painting that was headed for the trash with the idea of painting over the canvas to practice my newfound love of painting. When i got it home as i was just kinda looking it over i noticed what appeared to be old paper sticking out from between the canvas and the wood frame it was stretch on. This was a very descriptive very old and yellowed note. It stated the artist and her husband were famous he a famous Spanish pianist and she a famous vocalist. This was true as I was able to locate her copyrighted songs and his bill at the Portolla theater, It also stated her name her maiden name and it addressed her as the "Dear Countess Erma or Ema de La Pomme" the Erma/Ema is the only part I'm unable to decipher. It also named her dear friend a Mr. Louis Affry a very famous cellist. It stated when she died  and how and where and who the present owner of the picture is(the note writer. Ive been told that the painting is as old if not older than turn of the century Its in its original frame. Its not the greatest painting definitely an amateur. I'm wondering if it is indeed that of a true countess and if so would it be more valuable? is it higher in value due to her social status and because of there being this letter with it. It just seems to me that the author of the letter had some sort of reason for her writing and concealing this note. I'm curious because quite honestly I'm looking to sell it I'm more needing the money than an old painting at this time so ANY AND ALL help advice and opinions are so welcome and very much appreciated. Thank you and sorry so long If you would like me to post the note and the picture id be wiling to do so. thanks agar9in

[Michelle Staley]

It sounds like the previous owner was documenting the provenance/ history of the painting. Maybe they knew the family that it belonged to and just wanted this history to stay with the painting.

"pomme' is French for apple so it sounds like this was a term of endearment. The only way she would be a countess is if she were married to an Earl or Count. You did not note the name of her husband but look and see if he was titled gentry. Or was she old enough to have been previously married? I could not find any reference to a Countess Erma. It could also be that this was just a term they gave her since she was such a talented vocalist. BTW, since she was Spanish the correct term would have been Condessa.

In some countries they do bestow honorary titles for different things such as community service, participation in the arts, business, etc. so this is another avenue in which she could have received her title.

Since you have her maiden name, husbands name and other names it should be fairly easy to track lineage.

As for this title increasing the value of a less than well executed painting.... no unless she really was of nobility. You did not say who painted the piece.

I think that more research is needed into her family to try and see if in fact her title is real. Be sure to keep the note with the painting since it is such a wonderful piece of provenance.

I would love to see a photo of the painting and more information that you have concerning the artist.

[RaceGirlRandi]

Sure and thank you for such a informative reply i do appreciate it. I'm just going to figure out how to upload the note as well as the painting. She was born Gertrude Briickman her husband was of Spanish decent named Luis Pamies. I was able to locate their headstone she was born in 1877 died in 1844 in redwood city of a heart attack she is the one who painted the painting as there is her sig and the note that validates her as the painter. Actually i think the painting is kinda cool with its original old frame it is a ship sailing the sea maybe possibly a Spanish ship however she was German i did locate her death cert but as of yet have not been able to locate her obit to see if there are any living relatives I'm thinking by the wording of the note she and Luis were childless. Ive contacted the  Francisco libraries genealogy and history dept no help i contacted the chamber of commerce no help i even wrote to the cemetery where they are buried to see who well for lack of a batter term "Placed them there and they have not responded as of yet. Anyway I'm going to trey to upload the photos and if that does not work is there an email address that i could send them to you at id in all honesty would rather do that as i have no patience and am pretty green on the computer and in the past i have not correctly upload some photos uploading the WRONG ones. Let me put it this way it was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life on line and it got me kicked out of a website i was a new member in i really dint want that to happen again Ill try OK. Again thank you so mu cg one little question i dint understand what it means when there is that i am spamming this board every few words of your reply forgive my ignorance.

[Michelle Staley]

I get so many people on here that just want to post junk, so far today 320, that I had to restrict some words. This forum looked like an xrated site last year when I went on vacation. I have redone the word restrictions because it looks like it is picking our pieces of words and inserting the words I told it to. I hope that this fixes the problem.

Gertrude's maiden name was Bruckman with an umlaut (2 dots) over the u. Her name seems to be German.

It sounds like you are on the right track as far as running down her lineage. I noticed that you had posted this on several other boards and I would recommend rootsweb and ancestry.com

I love finding pieces that have letters of provenance. This would be fun to take to an Antiques Roadshow airing.

I will keep looking and keep us updated if you find more information.

[RaceGirlRandi]

Heyyy thanks for the info all this time im looking for a Briickman not bruckman ill try that now oh did you get the pictures i emailed of the painting to you?

[Michelle Staley]

I will check through my email and see if the picture is there. It has been a busy day.