The painting reproduced here
which was bought by a Bideford window cleaner for a few shillings is believed to be a Bonington and to be worth thousands of pounds. A water colour, it shows a French street scene, the monument in the foreground depicting Joan of Arc.
For five years the painting has hung above the TV set at 108 Clovelly Road, home of Mr Frank John Walker who declared this week: ‘I have never paid more than 30s. for a picture in my life.’
Mr R.L. Roland, curator of the Burton Art Gallery, examined the find and was convinced that the painting was a Bonington. Other experts who have examined the painting agree that it is an original. Photographs of the painting have been sent to the London galleries and this weekend the picture itself will be taken to a leading art dealer in London. Should local experts be proved right it will be sold at Sotheby’s.
Gazette article 30 March 1964