Fake or Fortune? Catch up, Series 8: 2. Cosway or Lawrence? on BBC 1

Fake or Fortune?

Series 8: 2. Cosway or Lawrence?

In this episode, we’re investigating an 18th-century family portrait of a young man at the prime of his life. Could a chance sighting by Philip have revealed an undiscovered work by the giant of Regency portraiture Sir Thomas Lawrence? \n\nThis painting has been passed down the generations of the Cecil family as the work of the pioneering female artist, Maria Cosway, but Philip believes it may be a case of mistaken identity. And the difference in value is enormous – as a work by Maria Cosway it is worth about £8,000; if it turns out to be by Thomas Lawrence, it could be valued at around £500,000. \n\nThe painting belongs to Hugh and Mirabel Cecil. Philip happened to catch sight of it when visiting their home and immediately complimented them on what he believed was a beautiful painting by one of his favourite artists, Thomas Lawrence. The Cecils put him right - as far as they were concerned this is a portrait of Hugh’s distant ancestor Peniston Lamb by the little-known but fascinating artist Maria Cosway. It’s now time for Philip’s hunch to be put to the test. \n\nThis investigation takes us to some of the grandest houses in the country. Peniston Lamb was part of the Melbourne family. They were right at the heart of high society, connected to royalty, and one brother, Lord Melbourne, even became prime minister. Fiona traces the provenance from family pile to family pile, charting its path down through the generations. \n\nAlong the way we learn about the pioneering artist and musician Maria Cosway. Born in Florence to English parents, Maria came to London as a teenager. She was soon noticed and taken under the wing of the influential female artist Angelica Kauffman, who encouraged Maria's artistic talents. She also had the patronage of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and the team visits Chatsworth House to see a stunning portrait of her by Cosway. Can the same hand be seen in the Cecil’s portrait of Peniston Lamb? \n\nMeanwhile Philip needs evidence to back his case for Lawrence. He visits the V&A costume department to see if he can more accurately date the painting and find out what Lawrence was up to at this time. Lawrence was a precocious talent, painting the Queen herself at the age of 17, and he certainly moved in the same circles as Peniston’s family and painted some of his siblings. But so did Maria Cosway...\n\nIf Philip’s hunch is right, generations of attribution to Maria Cosway will turn out to be wrong and an undiscovered Lawrence will be declared – but which way will the evidence stack up?

Source: BBC 1

Most recent episodes of Fake or Fortune?

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 12: 4. Corot

Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate a lovely landscape painting, purported to be by one of the forefathers of impressionism and one of the most important artists of the 19t ...

17-10-2024

BBC 1

All episodes

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 12: 3. Music Memorabilia

The team take on an entertaining new challenge when they plunge into the fast-growing market for rock music memorabilia. Can they prove that a curious silver guitar once belonge ...

10-10-2024

BBC 1

All episodes

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 12: 2. Helen Mcnicoll

Could a beautiful painting of women working in a field be a valuable lost work by Helen McNicoll, a celebrated impressionist artist from Canada? The quest to prove it takes the ...

03-10-2024

BBC 1

All episodes

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 12: 1. Mondrian

Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate a charming little white flower picture, purported to be by one of the most important abstract artists of the 20th century, Piet Mondrian ...

26-09-2024

BBC 1

All episodes

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 11: 4. Arshile Gorky

Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould investigate a murky canvas that could be by Arshile Gorky, a pioneer of abstract expressionism. Works by this Armenian-American artist fetch million ...

28-08-2024

BBC 1

All episodes

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 11: 3. Cezanne And Pissarro

Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould head to France on the trail of two of the greatest Impressionist and post-Impressionist artists, Camille Pissarro and his friend and protege, Paul C ...

21-08-2024

BBC 1

All episodes

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 11: 2. Joshua Reynolds

Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould head to north London to meet Glyn Hopkin, a car dealer with a soft spot for art. He’s taken a gamble on a painting he hopes is by a towering f ...

26-07-2024

BBC 1

All episodes

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 8: 1. The Lost Gainsborough

The team investigate an 18th-century landscape: could it be a lost work by the great British master of landscape painting, Thomas Gainsborough? \n\nThe painting has been in the ...

24-06-2024

BBC 1

All episodes

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 11: 1. Elisabeth Frink

Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould head to the beautiful Essex countryside on the trail of one of the 20th century’s greatest artists, Dame Elisabeth Frink. They are investigati ...

19-06-2024

BBC 1

All episodes

Fake Or Fortune?

Series 10: 4. Flemish Old Master

Fiona and Philip visit a church in Port Glasgow to investigate whether a mysterious work depicting Christ after the crucifixion could be a lost masterpiece by one of the great p ...

22-02-2024

BBC 1

All episodes