A lost painting by 18th-century Scottish artist Katherine Read, believed to be worth more than £100,000 ($127,000), has been authenticated by the BBC program "Fake or Fortune." The work is thought to be the earliest recorded painting of an Indian sitter by a European female artist.
The painting, which had been in the same family for generations, was brought to the attention of the program's experts. After extensive research and technical analysis, the team confirmed its attribution to Read, a portraitist who was highly successful in her time, even earning more than contemporaries like Gainsborough. However, like many female artists of her era, her work was largely forgotten or misattributed as tastes changed.
"It's wonderful, it's unbelievable. Thank you so much," said Mary-Louise Wedderburn, the owner of the painting, upon hearing of its authenticity and value. She expressed particular significance in its connection to Read due to family ties and her admiration for the artist as a person. "The more that we find out about Katherine Read, the more I think she was just a wonderful woman, she was just super."
The "Fake or Fortune" team conducted a thorough investigation, comparing the portrait with other known works by Read, examining family archives, and consulting with experts. They gathered letters and wills that provided new insights into Read's life and travels, including her time in Chennai, India, then known as Madras, where she may have painted figures such as the Nawabs of Arcot, local Mughal rulers.
Technical analysis from the Courtauld Institute of Art was a key factor in the authentication. "The evidence from the dossier that to me was the strongest was the technical analysis done by the Courtauld," explained researcher Greig. "The similarity of the portrait of [her niece] Helena Beatson: the pigments, the modelling of the figures, the brushwork, were very conclusive."
Katherine Read studied in Europe and was a successful professional in elite circles. Despite her contemporary success, Read, along with many other female artists, faded from prominence over time. The authentication of this work is considered "enormously important" as it sheds new light on her life and contributions to art history.