Originally published in Pearson's Weekly (C. Arthur Pearson Ltd.) vol.1 #6 (30 Aug 1890).
This story of how a poor widow was suddenly made rich is perfectly true. Fancy a poor widow, without friends or support, unable to see her way to make a living, wondering sadly what will become of her. Then fancy that all the time she has a picture upon the wall of her little room, which, though the poor creature set no value upon it, was worth £10,000.
The occurrence took place in 1858. In that year the writer attended a sale at an old fashioned farmhouse at Woodcot, in Oxfordshire. I have often visited that farm, being acquainted with the aged couple who owned it, but who, at the time of the sale, were dead. The house was one of the most ancient I have ever visited. The entrance hall, from its immense size, was particularly noticeable, In this hall was hung a very large painting representing a figure on horseback. Little was its value then known, the only framing it had being a border of coloured canvas.
I have often had chats with the old farmer about the painting. He said it was there when he was born, and that’s all he knew about it. Amongst those who attended the sale was a gentleman named Snare, a bookseller, living in Reading, within four miles of the farm. I knew Mr. Snare, and we directed our attention to tho painting. On account of its ungainly size no-one wanted it, and it was knocked down to Mr. Snare for 25s.
When next I saw the picture Mr. Snare had had it beautifully cleaned, framed, and placed in a good light. The result was marvellous. Attention was attracted.
Mr. Snare placed the picture on exhibition.
A gentleman who had inspected it very carefully, said to Mr. Snare:—
"Do you know who the artist is?"
"I do not," replied the bookseller.
"The artist was Velasquez," said the gentleman, "The picture represents Charles the First, and it was stolen from Fife Castle more than a hundred years ago. I am deputed by the Earl of Fife (the present Duke's father), whose agent I am, to offer £10,000 for the picture. He does not wish to go to law for its recovery."
Snare refused the offer, gave up his business, forsook his wife and child, and fled to America with the picture. After two years of disappointment and broken health, he died in New York in the greatest poverty, clinging to the last to the famous picture, the cause of all his misery. Amongst his papers the address of his wife was found. The picture was returned to her. She was in great poverty. Recommended to write to the Earl of Fife, offering to return the picture, she did so. The response was a cheque for £10,000! The picture is now in Fife Castle.