Trapido-Rosenthal -- has scored something of a coup with the current exhibition of watercolours by Gaspard Le Marchant Tupper.

The historic Bermuda paintings first went on show in February and are now back on public view in the Ondaatje Wing.

In the meantime, vigorous detective work by Mrs. Rosenthal has revealed that the paintings, previously attributed to Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant (a Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia in the mid-19th century), are in fact the work of his nephew.

Mrs. Rosenthal who, until she joined her scientist husband in Bermuda, was the librarian of the St. Augustine Historical Society, has uncovered the true identity of the artist in the best tradition of art history -- that of meticulous, detailed and often wearying research that has spread through several countries.

"A wonderful series of coincidences helped us find the true story behind the paintings,'' she says. One of these occurred when the framers, preparing the watercolours for the February showing, mistakenly removed them from the album pages as originally purchased by National Gallery chairman, Mr. Jay Bluck.

"There were various notes written on the back, which led us to contact the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. It turned out they had also found notes on their Nova Scotia paintings by the same artist, but with the name `Tupper' just decipherable.'' Armed with this information, Mrs. Rosenthal says it was archivist Mr. John Adams who suggested a search through the Bermuda Pocket Almanack. Sure enough, he was listed as having been posted here with the Royal Regiment of Artillery from 1856-58. Searches through genealogical records then confirmed he was the nephew of Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant, a prominent family from Guernsey.

"At least he was related to the person who was originally named as the artist,'' laughs Mrs. Rosenthal. "But the biggest coincidence was when a couple named Chris and Karen Le Marchant, visiting from Guernsey, recently went into Heritage House to try and track down more information on this artist, as they had just seen a show of the prints by the Bank of Butterfield in Guernsey, which had whetted their appetites. Now they are helping us dig out more information.'' "A Mystery Revealed: Historic Watercolours of Bermuda by Gaspard Le Marchant Tupper'' will remain on show at the Bermuda National Gallery through mid-September.

`NORMAN MORRISON ON PASSAGE TO BERMUDA WITH CONVICTS' -- One of the watercolours painted by 19th century artist, Gaspard La Marchant Tupper, now on show at the Bermuda National Gallery. (Print from the Collection of Fay and Geoffrey Elliott).