Long-Lost Victorian Painting Turns Up on Antiques Roadshow

One man in Harrogate, England, is very happy he decided to have Antiques Roadshow take a look at an old family painting. It turns out that the portrait of his great-great-grandfather could be worth almost half a million dollars, reports the Telegraph. The painting, done by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, depicts the artist's friend, Leopold Lowenstam, working at an engraving table. Alma-Tadema is widely considered one of the most important artists of the Victorian era, and the art world is abuzz with the re-discovery of this particular painting, notes ArtNet News. (The link has images of the painting, which is valued between $300,000 and $450,000.)

Alma-Tadema gave Lowenstam the painting as a wedding gift in 1883. Although it was exhibited a few times, it vanished from public view in 1913 and was widely regarded as having been lost or destroyed. That is, until it showed up on Antiques Roadshow, courtesy of Lowenstam's great-great-grandson. (The American version of the show on PBS is based on this older, British version.) Turns out, it was just being handed down in the family. The owner, who wished to remain anonymous, says he doesn't want to sell, despite the spectacular valuation. Instead, the painting will join a traveling exhibition of Alma-Tadema's work. (Of course, the show was comically wrong about this jug.)