Antique painting bought for 12 guineas to sell for £66k
Scarborough artist Lord Leighton's work is being put up for auction.
An antique painting measuring ten inches by nine inches entitled Musician's Head From Cimabue is expected to fetch £66,000 when it goes under the hammer in the US. The work of Scarborough artist Lord Leigh ton, it was bought in 1928 for 12 guineas - what would be £12.60 in modern coinage, the Scarborough Evening News reports.
Still in its original frame, it is being put up for bidding atSotheby's New York branch on April 23rd, a venue that has seen previous paintings by the master sell well. On October 22nd last year, a world record for one of his pieces was set when Venus Disrobing For The Bath - a seven foot by three foot creation - sold for £1,130,034.
The Leighton House Museum - home to the artist during the 19th century - reopened to the public earlier this month after a £1.6million renovation. Visitors will once again be able to see his collection of Islamic tiles in the Arab Hall, numbering over 1,000.