Discovering a family treasure at the Mission

By: TOM MORROW - Staff Writer

Some months ago this column shook loose some local history, bringing together the descendents of 19th century artist Leon Trousset and the El Camino Real chapter of the California Questers, who raised more than $14,000 for the restoration of one of his Mission San Luis Rey oil paintings.

The first of two restorations was unveiled Aug. 23 at a Mission reception where 125 folks got to meet the artist's 80-year-old grandson, Manuel Trousset of Vista, his daughters and their families.

The two paintings are impressive at 7 feet by 10 feet each.

"There were a couple of holes and some tears in the canvas also, but they were repaired," says Bonsall's Virginia Brophy of the Questers. "You cannot tell now where the holes or tears were in the newly restored painting. Without restoration, the painting would have been destroyed."

The work was done at San Diego's Balboa Art Conservation Center.

Hemet's Tracy Trousset brought her father to the Mission to watch the first painting being taken down after a family member read my early summer column about the Questers' restoration. For years, the Trousset family, who had been long-time residents of Oceanside, had no idea who had done the Mission artwork.

"They were astounded and so delighted to discover the painting," Virginia told me. "Manuel told us he had worshiped at the Mission and that three of his daughters had been married there."

But, he had no idea his grandfather was the artist of the two famous paintings.

"I must have walked past those painting hundreds of times, but they are hung very high on the wall and the signature was not visible," he told the Questers. "I had no idea it had been created by my grandfather."

Tracy has since joined the El Camino Questers as they raise money for the second Trousset's restoration.

To raise those big bucks, the Questers are taking an Oct. 27 motor coach cultural tour up to Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

First stop will be the Edward Dean Museum of Decorative Arts in Cherry Valley, then the Wilshire Apple Shed in Oak Glen for lunch and cider. In the afternoon, a stop at San Bernardino County's oldest standing museums, the Oak Glen Schoolhouse. Final stop will be the Precious Times Antique Mall and Vintage Gardens in Redlands.

Cost: $55 per person, which includes transportation, driver gratuity, admissions, lunch and light refreshments on the bus. Reservations must be made by Oct. 17. Call (760) 726-1819.

Notes for Tom Morrow can be sent to tmorrow@nctimes.com, or call (760) 901-4074. Find his previous columns on the Internet at www.nctimes.com.