Art historians believe a missing portrait of Henry VIII is owned by Warwickshire County Council after it was spotted in a photo on social media.
Adam Busiakiewicz, a consultant for auction house Sotheby’s, said he was scrolling on X when he noticed the artwork in a photo taken in Warwick’s Shire Hall.
Mr Busiakiewicz said the portrait of Henry VIII ‘immediately’ reminded him of a famous collection commissioned by Warwickshire politician Ralph Sheldon in the 1590s.
The collection consists of 22 portraits, including many kings and queens, but the location of only a handful is known. Some are displayed at Eton College and the National Portrait Gallery.
After the council invited Mr Busiakiewicz and his colleague, Aaron Manning, to see the painting first-hand, they confirmed they believe it is ‘definitely’ part of the Sheldon collection.
The portrait has since been moved into the council’s museum collections centre for further research.
