John Silver's painting

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John Silver's painting
  Type  Painting  
  Source  Drew by an Unnamed painter  
  Current Owner  Claudius  
  Previous Owner  John Silver  

When he was Claudius' employee, John Silver had bought an "ordinary" painting of "two yellow-headed parrots on a branch", which was, actually, painted over an invaluable portrait of a shepherdess which he hid away for protection. To find the painting, Silver had trained seven birds to speak unique lines which were clues to its location.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Two years before the painting was found in the graveyard, it was bought by John Silver for an exorbitant amount of money. Claudius, being his employer, discharged him for this, calling him a fool. However, after being fired, he revealed to Claudius that he was sure that the ordinary painting was covering an older and much more valuable work. Silver cleaned off the painting of the parrots, showing an "absolutely lovely little painting of a young shepherdess tending a baby lamb".[2]

However, Silver argued that as Claudius had discharged him, the painting was now his. As Claudius debated back that the painting belonged to him, due to Silver using Claudius' money to buy it, they agreed to share it half and half. However, Claudius threatened Silver with arrest, in anger. Silver, then, smuggled the image and fled to California on a freighter.[3]

When he stayed at Ramos Sanchez's house, he had kept the painting in a metal box with a strong lock on it. He would sleep with it under his mattress, every night. Every night, he would also open it and look at the painting, and would seem happy while doing so.[4]

One day, Silver disappeared. He actually left for hiding the painting in the graveyard, as when he returned, three days later, he did not have the metal box with him.[5]

Plot[edit | edit source]

After Peter Crenshaw used a lead pipe cinch he got to free himself and fellow investigator, Jupiter Jones, and after they both returned to the Headquarters, Huganay phoned them and gave them the hint that they had the painting. His hint would make them realize that the painting was in the lead pipe cinch.[6] The painting was later returned to Claudius, who owned the painting, as Silver had died.[7]

References[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]