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Lost Bonnie Prince Charlie portrait found in Scotland | Lost Bonnie Prince Charlie portrait found in Scotland |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A lost portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie has been discovered in Scotland, ending one of the greatest mysteries in British royal art. | A lost portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie has been discovered in Scotland, ending one of the greatest mysteries in British royal art. |
The portrait, by Scottish artist Allan Ramsay, was painted in Edinburgh in 1745, the year Charles launched his ill-fated invasion of England. | The portrait, by Scottish artist Allan Ramsay, was painted in Edinburgh in 1745, the year Charles launched his ill-fated invasion of England. |
It is the only portrait of Charles to have been painted in Britain. | It is the only portrait of Charles to have been painted in Britain. |
It is on a Culture Show Special, The Lost Portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie, on Saturday on BBC2 at 21:00. | It is on a Culture Show Special, The Lost Portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie, on Saturday on BBC2 at 21:00. |
The programme will be presented by the art historian Dr Bendor Grosvenor. | The programme will be presented by the art historian Dr Bendor Grosvenor. |
Almost unseen | Almost unseen |
Charles Edward Stuart, popularly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, was the grandson of the exiled Stuart king, James II. | Charles Edward Stuart, popularly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, was the grandson of the exiled Stuart king, James II. |
In 1745, at the age of 24, he landed in Scotland, determined to regain the throne. | In 1745, at the age of 24, he landed in Scotland, determined to regain the throne. |
However, despite taking his Highland army as far south as Derby, Charles's rebellion ended in defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. | |
Until now, it was thought that no portrait of Charles was ever painted from life in Britain. | Until now, it was thought that no portrait of Charles was ever painted from life in Britain. |
However, the newly discovered portrait was painted in Holyrood Palace in late October 1745. | However, the newly discovered portrait was painted in Holyrood Palace in late October 1745. |
For over 250 years it remained, almost entirely unseen, in the collection of the Earls of Wemyss at Gosford House, just outside Edinburgh. | For over 250 years it remained, almost entirely unseen, in the collection of the Earls of Wemyss at Gosford House, just outside Edinburgh. |
The portrait shows, for the first time, Charles's likeness during one of the most dramatic episodes in British history, when he became the last man to lead a Scottish army into England. | The portrait shows, for the first time, Charles's likeness during one of the most dramatic episodes in British history, when he became the last man to lead a Scottish army into England. |
Dr Grosvenor's discovery of the portrait makes amends for his shock revelation a few years ago that the Scottish National Portrait Gallery's iconic portrait of Charles, a pastel painted in Paris in 1747 by the French artist Maurice Quentin de La Tour, was not in fact Charles, but his brother Henry. | Dr Grosvenor's discovery of the portrait makes amends for his shock revelation a few years ago that the Scottish National Portrait Gallery's iconic portrait of Charles, a pastel painted in Paris in 1747 by the French artist Maurice Quentin de La Tour, was not in fact Charles, but his brother Henry. |
The La Tour portrait had adorned book covers and shortbread tins across the world. | The La Tour portrait had adorned book covers and shortbread tins across the world. |
Famous portrait | Famous portrait |
Dr Grosvenor's latest discovery therefore brings an end to the search for a suitable replacement portrait of Charles at the height of his fame. | Dr Grosvenor's latest discovery therefore brings an end to the search for a suitable replacement portrait of Charles at the height of his fame. |
The first clue in Grosvenor's search for the portrait was the discovery of a letter summoning Ramsay to paint Charles's portrait at the Palace of Holyrood in October 1745. | The first clue in Grosvenor's search for the portrait was the discovery of a letter summoning Ramsay to paint Charles's portrait at the Palace of Holyrood in October 1745. |
Then, an old black and white photograph of a painting of Charles which bore the hallmarks of Ramsay's work was found in the National Portrait Gallery archive in London. | Then, an old black and white photograph of a painting of Charles which bore the hallmarks of Ramsay's work was found in the National Portrait Gallery archive in London. |
Further records at Gosford revealed the painting had long been identified as a Ramsay. | Further records at Gosford revealed the painting had long been identified as a Ramsay. |
The attribution has been confirmed by Dr Duncan Thomson, the former Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and an expert on Ramsay's work. | The attribution has been confirmed by Dr Duncan Thomson, the former Director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and an expert on Ramsay's work. |
Dr Grosvenor said: "Bonnie Prince Charlie is one of my heroes, and I always felt bad about debunking what used to be his most famous portrait. | Dr Grosvenor said: "Bonnie Prince Charlie is one of my heroes, and I always felt bad about debunking what used to be his most famous portrait. |
"So I'm delighted to have found the best possible replacement - a portrait painted from life on the eve of his invasion of England." | "So I'm delighted to have found the best possible replacement - a portrait painted from life on the eve of his invasion of England." |
Dr Duncan Thomson said: "This portrait brings the Prince back to life in a way I'd never thought imaginable. It's hard to overstate the importance of finding a portrait of the Prince painted in Scotland, by a Scottish artist." | Dr Duncan Thomson said: "This portrait brings the Prince back to life in a way I'd never thought imaginable. It's hard to overstate the importance of finding a portrait of the Prince painted in Scotland, by a Scottish artist." |
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