Lost John Constable masterpiece worth £2million is found collecting dust in Scottish castle inherited by couple struggling to pay for its upkeep
- Painting had previously been branded a fake in a valuation ten years ago
A painting which had been left to gather dust by its current owners turns out to be a lost John Constable masterpiece worth £2 million.
It was discovered in an 800-year-old Scottish castle near Kilmarnock, which was inherited by a couple struggling to pay the bills.
Simon Houison Craufurd, laird of Craufurdland Castle estate, and his wife Adity said the new found fortune will be ‘life-changing’ for the estate, which racks up repair and maintenance costs of £100,000 a year.
The value of the painting – which had been left in the guest wing – was realised by Ronnie Archer-Morgan, an art expert who spent months analysing the canvas.
‘It’s funny because it’s a painting that I have seen I don’t know how many times and I have never actually paid any attention to it, ‘ Mr Craufurd told The Telegraph.
An unknown painting by world-renowned landscape artist John Constable was discovered at Craufurdland Castle near Kilmarnock
Simon Houison Craufurd, laird of Craufurdland Castle estate, and his wife Adity had left the oil painting to gather dust in the guest wing after it was branded a fake in a valuation ten years ago
‘The potential that the painting could bring to what we want to with the estate going forward is not just life-changing just for us – it’s a legacy that will, I would hope, go on for generations and generations,’ he added.
Mr Craufurd is the 29th laird of the 600-acre estate. He said there is ‘huge pressure not to be the last’.
The oil painting which depicts the English country side with a bridge and a river is valued between £1million and £2million. It had previously been branded a fake in a valuation ten years ago.
Mr Craufurd described the discovery of the painting as a ‘huge find’ and said it would help to pay for the ‘astronomical’ costs of running and maintaining the castle.
He added that window and roof repairs can eaily spiral when not kept on top of, in addition to the price of insurance.
Mr and Mrs Craufurd said the discovery of the painting is ‘life-changing’ as they grapple with the costs of repairing and maintaining the 800-year-old castle
Craufurdland Castle, where the panting was discovered, is a rebuilt tower house originating in the 16th century
The oil painting which depicts the English country side with a bridge and a river is valued between £1million and £2million. Despite being titled the Old Bridge over the Avon, art expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan said he believes it depicts a spot on the Thames in the Oxfordshire countryside
The painting is believed to have entered Craufurdland Castle in 1918 through art collector John Postle Heseltine.
Art expert Mr Archer-Morgan found the painting to be a convincing Constable ‘in terms of ground, priming colours and handling’.
Despite being titled the Old Bridge over the Avon, Mr Archer-Morgan said he believes it depicts a spot on the Thames in the Oxfordshire countryside.
The Craufurd’s discovery will be presented on Channel 4’s Millionaire Hoarders programme, where experts are seen to scour properties for hidden treasures.
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