Wheelie bin Romney up for sale
February 21 2025
Picture: Roseberys
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Amusing news that a drawing by George Romney, that was discovered in a wheelie bin in upstate New York, is going to be featured within an upcoming sale at Roseberys. The drawing is said to depict Henrietta Greville, 2nd Countess of Warwick.*
According to the article linked above:
The collector, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "When I first found it buried in the wheelie bin it looked interesting but I had no idea it was nearly 300 years old.
"After taking it home and doing some research I couldn't believe it. How did this mid-18th century drawing from England end up in the trash in upstate New York?"
The drawing will be offered for sale on 12th March 2025 carrying an estimate of £600 - £800.
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* - As it happens, the Earls and Countesses of Warwick are one of my pet subjects. The identification comes from what appears to be a much later inscription on the mount and is curious since the work does in no way resemble Romney's portrait of the Countess and her children (now in the Frick) or a lost portrait of her that was engraved. Was the identification made at some point in the 20th century by someone who had knowledge of the Frick collection painting, which happened to have been acquired in 1908? A mystery.
