New York Dumpster Yields 18th-Century Art TREASURE—How Did It Get TRASHED?
A rare George Romney sketch, linked to a Frick masterpiece, was found in a New York dumpster. 🌐 #News #HudsonNY #NewYork #Lifestyle
HUDSON, NY – A casual rummage through a dumpster in Hudson, New York turned into an extraordinary event last year. An antiques enthusiast stumbled upon a forgotten pen and ink sketch by George Romney, a celebrated 18th-century English portrait painter. This rare find, buried among the refuse, is now set to captivate bidders at a London auction next month.
From Trash to Treasure
The person who found the artwork initially thought it was just an intriguing piece. After bringing it home and examining it, they realized its true age—nearly 300 years old—and its origin across the Atlantic.
The sketch, marked with “G. Romney” on its mount and stamped with the artist’s studio seal on the back, baffled its finder. How did this centuries-old drawing travel from England to a dumpster in upstate New York?
Experts have verified the piece as a genuine Romney work.
It will go under the hammer at Rosebery’s in London on March 12, during the “Old Master, British and European Pictures” sale. With an estimated value of £600–£800 ($750–$1,000), this find offers an affordable chance to own a piece of art history.
A Link to a Masterpiece
Romney dominated Britain’s portrait scene in the 18th century, with his works gracing major collections like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Getty. This particular sketch ties back to one of his notable creations housed at the Frick, less than 200 miles from where it was discarded.
A handwritten note on the back identifies the drawing as a study of Henrietta Greville, Countess of Warwick.
Auction specialists connect it to a late 1780s oil painting of the countess and her children, owned by the Frick. Both pieces show her seated, a pose typical of Romney’s style. The Grevilles, loyal patrons of the artist, appeared in several of his works.
The sketch’s swift, flowing lines reflect Romney’s technique in his later years. As a preparatory drawing, it reveals how he crafted his larger compositions step by step.
A Mystery Unfolds
While Romney’s oil paintings often command high prices, his ink studies remain more attainable, typically selling for up to $3,000. Recent sales at Bonhams London saw similar works fetch over £1,600 ($2,000).
An expert on Romney’s career, Alex Kidson, agrees the sketch is authentic. However, he suggests it might relate to a lost portrait of the countess, known only through an engraving, rather than the Frick painting.
How this artwork ended up in a New York dumpster remains unknown. Its journey from an English studio to American trash spans centuries and continents, leaving experts puzzled. Remarkably, valuable art turning up in unlikely places isn’t entirely new, but this case stands out.
Auction Spotlight
The upcoming Rosebery’s sale features over 470 lots, including this Romney sketch. The event also showcases the collection of Hugo Morley-Fletcher, a late ceramics expert from Christie’s and a familiar face on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. For art lovers and collectors, this dumpster find promises to be a rare gem worth watching.
RELATED TOPICS: History | Lifestyle | New York | United Kingdom
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