ROMANCE OF A PICTURE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16969, 26 February 1926, Page 5

ROMANCE OF A PICTURE.

GEN LINE OLD MASTER FOB £25. DESTROYED BY FIRE. INSURANCE CLAIM DISPUTED. '[Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.; (Australian amt .N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received 1 February 26, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 25. Tho romance of a painting purchased for £25 from London dealers under the belief it was a copy of a Raphael, which subsequently turned out to be a geuuino old master valued at £20,800, was related bv Lady Bober Thomas, in her claim against one of Lloyds’ underwriters for payment of an insurance policy on the picture, which was destroyed by fire at Lady Thomas’ home, Anglesey. Sir 11. Thomas gave evidence that he valued the picture greatly because of its romantic history. When purchasing he told the dealer to renovate it and the dealer later communicated with Sir B. Thomas offering to gi\n liirn £SCO to release him from the bargain. Sir B. Thomas subsequently compensated the dealer to the extent of £IOO. He regarded the picture as the most valuable of his possessions. When he was absent the picture was always removed' to a room where someone was constantly in attendance. The defence maintained the picture destroyed was not the one insured, and further that when the insurance was effected’, it wn.s not. r (Coaled that Thomas hud bought it as a copy of Raphael for £25. It was also maintained! that the picture was merely a reproduction. The hearing has been adjourned.