This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45162870
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Sir William Nicholson painting bought for £165k is 'fake' | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A painting bought for £165,000, and thought to have been painted by British artist Sir William Nicholson, could be nearly worthless after an art expert cast doubt on its authenticity. | |
The still life of a glass jug and pears was examined on the BBC's Fake of Fortune? programme. | |
An expert said there was not enough evidence to confirm who painted it. | |
However, a handwriting expert believes the work is authentic, and evidence links it to Nicholson's paint box. | |
Presenter Fiona Bruce said she was "shocked" as the case had been "so strong". | Presenter Fiona Bruce said she was "shocked" as the case had been "so strong". |
"It was just love at first sight," owner Lyn said of the piece, adding that she "didn't have any doubt" of its authenticity when she bought it in 2006. | "It was just love at first sight," owner Lyn said of the piece, adding that she "didn't have any doubt" of its authenticity when she bought it in 2006. |
But when a catalogue of Nicholson's work - the official list of all his known pieces - was published by Reed in 2011, Lyn's painting was not included. | But when a catalogue of Nicholson's work - the official list of all his known pieces - was published by Reed in 2011, Lyn's painting was not included. |
"I was hurt. I feel it's a miscarriage of justice," Lyn said. And so she hoped the Fake Or Fortune? team could prove otherwise. | "I was hurt. I feel it's a miscarriage of justice," Lyn said. And so she hoped the Fake Or Fortune? team could prove otherwise. |
Will Darby, whose Mayfair gallery - Browse and Darby - exhibited the painting before selling it to Lyn for £165,000 ($210,456), told Fiona Bruce: "I was shocked. As far as I was concerned this painting couldn't have been done by anyone else." | Will Darby, whose Mayfair gallery - Browse and Darby - exhibited the painting before selling it to Lyn for £165,000 ($210,456), told Fiona Bruce: "I was shocked. As far as I was concerned this painting couldn't have been done by anyone else." |
In Sunday night's episode, new evidence was revealed that scientifically linked the painting to Nicholson's own paint box which is kept in his grandson's house. | In Sunday night's episode, new evidence was revealed that scientifically linked the painting to Nicholson's own paint box which is kept in his grandson's house. |
A handwriting expert told the programme he was "100% convinced" that writing on the back of the painting was by Nicholson. | A handwriting expert told the programme he was "100% convinced" that writing on the back of the painting was by Nicholson. |
Pigments also matched those used in a very similar Nicholson painting now in Canada. | Pigments also matched those used in a very similar Nicholson painting now in Canada. |
Despite this, expert Patricia Reed was still not convinced it was genuine. | |
"There is nothing that gives direct evidence that he actually executed the work himself," she said. | "There is nothing that gives direct evidence that he actually executed the work himself," she said. |
Born in 1872, Nicholson spent five decades painting portraits, landscapes and still lifes. | Born in 1872, Nicholson spent five decades painting portraits, landscapes and still lifes. |
Reed said some of Nicholson's painting boards would be reused by painters being taught by him in his studio. | Reed said some of Nicholson's painting boards would be reused by painters being taught by him in his studio. |
This group, known as the "Sunday painters", famously included Winston Churchill and Ms Reed said the painting could have been executed by one of them. | This group, known as the "Sunday painters", famously included Winston Churchill and Ms Reed said the painting could have been executed by one of them. |
International art dealer Philip Mould said: "This has to be one of the most convincing technical investigations we've done on a picture." | International art dealer Philip Mould said: "This has to be one of the most convincing technical investigations we've done on a picture." |