Mystery surrounds ‘Old Master’ painting
Mystery surrounds a portrait in an historic Berwickshire town which was assumed to depict a much-hated figure in Scotland.
An art expert was recently brought in to attempt to identity the man in the portrait at Coldstream Town Hall.
But the valuer was unable to confirm it was a painting of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, one of Oliver Cromwell’s most loyal supporters and leader of his subjugation of the Scots, which brought poverty and starvation by the early 1650s.
However, a value estimate of between £5k to £6k has been placed on the portrait, which could also be a depiction of a former town provost from the 1800s.
At a meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s Coldstream Common Good Fund Sub-Committee it was suggested that the portrait should be passed on experts on the BBC’s Fake or Fortune to establish the truth.
Councillor John Greenwell said: “It could be an Old Master, but I doubt it!”
Further research is now planned in attempt to solve the mystery.