22-05-2025
The lost Lawrence masterpiece bought ‘by accident' for £3,000
A 'lost masterpiece' portrait of the Duke of York created by one of Britain's greatest artists has been rediscovered after a 20-year investigation by its owners — who bought it 'by accident' for less than £3,000.
Thomas Lawrence's portrait of Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany and second son of George III was unveiled at the Royal Academy in 1822 but subsequently disappeared from view.
It has now emerged that following the death of the duke in 1827 the portrait passed down through royal households before ending up with the Prince of Hanover, the 3rd Duke of Cumberland, at the end of the 19th century.
In 1915 the portrait's true identity became harder to fathom when the Order of the Garter worn by the
