THEN
32 years ago, February 1985
Castle Ashby Mantegna comes to auction
CHRISTIE’S are to sell, on April 19, Castle Ashby Mantegna of the Adoration of the Magi, which may well become the most expensive painting ever to come to auction.
The picture, which was recently exhibited at the “Splendours of the Gonzaga” exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum and has subsequently been on loan to the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, was painted c.1495-1505.
NOW
The Castle Ashby Mantegna fetched a hammer price of £7.5m at Christie’s, setting what was then a record for the artist, for a painting or any work of art sold at auction. It was acquired by the Getty Museum.
THEN
11 years ago, February 2006
Details emerge of £30m Wiltshire theft
Pictures released of some of the stolen items SPECIFIC details of the art and antiques stolen during a multi-million pound raid on Ramsbury Manor on the evening of February 1 were emerging from Wiltshire Police late last week.
The trade have been asked for their help in the recovery effort.
NOW
Harry Hyams, the property developer and collector who owned Ramsbury Manor, died in December 2015 with many of the significant pieces stolen in this raid still to be recovered.
