Historian Finds Lost Ancient Portrait in Social Media Photo’s Background

Sometimes, a simple scroll can turn into a miraculous discovery.

That’s exactly what happened to British art historian Adam Busiakiewicz. While scrolling through X, an unexpected find captured his attention. In a photo shared from Warwick, England’s Shire Hall, Busiakiewicz noticed a portrait of King Henry VIII hanging in the background.

“Tim Cox, Lord Lieutenant of Warwick, posted this photograph of a room full of people,” Busiakiewicz told Fox News Digital during a phone interview. His attention was drawn particularly to the paintings visible in the background.

Busiakiewicz recognized the distinct round-topped, arch-topped frame of the painting. Interestingly, just last summer, he had been working at Sotheby’s on a painting from a fascinating set created by Ralph Sheldon about 400 years ago. These paintings, known for their unique round tops, stood out as they were not common for portraits.

“It made me immediately think, ‘Ah, that’s a very interesting painting,'” he continued.

After spotting the painting, Busiakiewicz delved deeper into his research to verify if it was indeed the ancient portrait he thought it was. He spent around an hour going through books covering Sheldon’s paintings, which were available to him.

“The portrait of Henry VIII that was part of this famous set has never been identified in modern times, so nobody knew where it was, and that’s why it’s been missing,” he explained.

The Henry VIII painting was part of a set of 22 portraits commissioned by Sheldon in the 1590s. Only a handful of these portraits are known to exist today, and they are housed in the National Portrait Gallery, London; Eton College; and Knebworth House.

The discovery still raises many questions, particularly about the portrait’s journey to Warwick’s Shire Hall.

“We know that the Warwickshire County Council purchased it in 1951, from a place called Madingley Hall, now owned by the University of Cambridge,” Busiakiewicz said.

“But it was sold in the late ‘40s, early ’50s, alongside most of its art collection. The council bought it during that sale.”

He also mentioned, “There’s an old label on the back of the painting. We know it was last sold in 1908, at Christie’s in London. That sale included property belonging to the Marchioness of Conyngham, a British aristocrat. It seems to have been in that collection for some time, but now we’re trying to track its history from 1908 back to 1781, a period we’re still investigating.”

Tracing the movement of art, especially pieces as old as this, can be a complex task.

“Art sold between two people who didn’t record the details can lead to history being lost,” Busiakiewicz said.

Despite the challenges, Busiakiewicz is confident about the evidence supporting this piece as the long-lost painting. Elements such as the portrait’s distinctive frame and an inscription, which was painted over, link it to the Sheldon inscriptions.

When it comes to art, many factors determine its importance and value. This portrait’s significance lays not just in its age but also in its association with a historically significant collection and a recognizable figure like King Henry VIII.

“A painting’s value can be significantly influenced by its artist if they were deeply admired. Additionally, the painting’s quality and provenance play roles in establishing its worth,” Busiakiewicz elaborated.

“Ultimately, the fun part about auctions is that all you need are a few interested buyers. The value can skyrocket, as it’s sometimes a very mysterious science.”

Source: Fox News Digital