Hunt for lost royal portrait continues
Published on: 11-Jan-2008
The hunt for a lost portrait of the late Queen Mother continues following the discovery of the picture's frame.Australian artist, James Quinn, portrayed the young Queen Elizabeth in an evening gown and holding a fan and donated it to Arbroath Art Gallery in 1936.
It was removed from the gallery for safekeeping during World War II and has not been seen since.
Angus Councillor Jim Millar, told the BBC News, that the original frame had been uncovered at Hospitafield House art centre and returned to the council, "although the painting itself remains elusive".
One "intriguing" tale, as to what happened to the painting, was of a bonfire in the 70s in which many works thought to be damaged by fire were destroyed.
Mr Millar said: "This may be plausible but another suggestion is that the story was made up to cover the removal of several works of art and that the portrait of the Queen Mother remains intact in the local area."
The value of the painting is thought to be in the region of £25,000.
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