Lost Portrait of Charles Dickens Found in South Africa

Charles Dickens is one of the most celebrated authors of all time and as such, anything related to the author and his life is valuable. Sometime in the late 1800s, artist Margaret Gillies reported a palm sized portrait of the author unaccounted for. Attempts to find the work failed and the portrait and loss of it was consigned to history.

However, earlier this year the lost painting was found, languishing in the bottom of a box of bric-a-brac at a house clearance in South Africa, and it’s reported to be worth around $250,000!

When clearing the house in the South African site of Peitermaritzburg the painting was found, knowing they had something special the finders send the piece to London to be authenticated.

Art dealer Philip Mould said the atmosphere was electrifying when it first came into the gallery, even though the portrait was obscured by mould. Philip Mould & Company authenticated the piece and confirmed that it was indeed the lost painting.

The portrait has now been restored and will be on public display at the gallery from Thursday, the first time it has been exhibited since 1844!