Week three of Fake or Fortune? is here and brings with it another exciting case. Philip Mould and Fiona Bruce travel to Ascot to investigate a painting purported to be by celebrated artist Sir Edwin Landseer. If it is a Landseer, the Fake or Fortune? team will be uncovering a Victorian masterpiece which was thought to have been destroyed by a flood almost a century ago.
Landseer, a favourite artist of Queen Victoria, was a child prodigy and has become incredibly important when looking at 19th century British art. He created some of the most iconic artworks of the nineteenth century, from 'Monarch of the Glen' to the nationally loved Lions sculptures that stand proudly in Trafalgar Square. However, the work under investigation in this week's Fake or Fortune? episode, depicts the aftermath of a battle with fallen soldiers and horses. This particular scene is known as 'Time of War' and was first painted by Landseer in 1846.
The owners of the painting, Kathy and Barry first purchased it in a sale at Ascot racecourse. As a horse enthusiast and lover, Kathy was instantly overwhelmed with the subject, and the pair purchased the work due to their empathy with the horses painted in the traumatic scene. If the artwork is proven to be a lost artwork and indeed a national treasure, it could be worth as much as £80,000.
Catch up on the latest Fake or Fortune? series here and watch whether a Landseer has been rediscovered on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday.
