Last modified: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 12:33 AM EST Gregory Smith, right, grandson of the couple who donated the Russian masterpiece "Afghans" to the North Attleboro School Department decades ago, shakes hands with school committee attorney Charles Maguire behind School Superintendent Rick Smith at the start of Monday's meeting. Rick Smith wants to auction the work off and use the proceeds for a scholarship trust for art students. (Staff photo by MARTIN GAVIN) Relatives of donors say million-dollar artwork could be stored securely at North police station BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTH ATTLEBORO - Relatives of the donor pleaded with school officials Monday to keep a valuable Russian masterpiece in town, saying the intent of the gift was to encourage art appreciation, not to help with the town's finances. Represented by attorney Stephen Clapp, Gregory Smith asked the town to find a way to keep the Alexandre Iacovleff painting, which was recently moved out of the Community School after officials learned it could be worth more than $1 million. The painting, "Afghans," was conservatively appraised by Sotheby's at $600,000 to $800,000 and has been secured in the New York auction house until the town decides what to do with it. "The concept of the donation was display of the picture on the wall of the auditorium, not here's an asset that can be used to defray the costs of the school department," Clapp said. "The family's desire is to see that the original intent concerning the gift be honored in as close a way as possible, given the present circumstances. "The intent was that the work of art be on display in a particular location. It was intended to foster an appreciation for fine art in students and the residents of North Attleboro." The 7-foot by 10-foot painting was donated to the town by Charles Thompson, Smith's grandfather. Thompson spent 48 years working at the Vose Gallery in Boston and knew Iacovleff personally when the artist was teaching at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Little documentation of the gift can be found. School committee minutes indicate the painting was donated directly to the school department in 1951. Thompson personally hung the painting in what was then the high school, where town meetings were often held. "There was nothing like during a boring town meeting to look up and see that beautiful painting on the wall," Clapp said. "It's the family's desire that the work of art be on display for the people of North Attleboro. The family feels as though it can't hang quietly in its past location, but there are a lot of possibilities for it." Clapp suggested the painting could hang in the town's police station - though a special case would be necessary to protect the painting from the building's sprinkler system. Another option would be to temporarily loan the painting to a museum. School committee member William Kummer questioned whether having the painting secured at the police station would be ideal. "Having a spot in an auditorium provided wonderful viewing opportunities. If we secure it in the police station, where it can't be viewed, isn't that defeating the purpose?" he said. Clapp explained that placing the artwork in the police station would be a temporary solution until the town has a permanent, secure home for the painting. He suggested that when the town constructs a new library, a designated and secure spot could be designed for the painting. School committee member Christopher Frost said there would be costs involved in keeping the artwork in town, no matter where it hangs. "If we do keep it, we'll need to pay for maintenance, security and keeping it in a climate controlled environment. I don't know if a police station or new library will have that," he said. If any costs are involved in bringing the painting back to town and insuring it, Clapp said the Smith family would lead a fundraising effort to offset the costs. Fundraising would not begin until the town has made a decision to bring the painting back to town and has determined the costs. "I know the people of North Attleboro have been very willing to open their wallets to preserve history," Clapp said. "The family feels very strongly about this and would be willing to lead the effort." The school committee is set to meet Wednesday to discuss the painting's fate. Any sale of the painting would have to be approved by both the school committee and the board of selectmen to go forward.