WATFORD has snatched back an important piece of heritage from America - a large oil painting, A View of Cassiobury Park, painted by John Wootton in 1748. .
Following a whirlwind campaign to raise the funding locally and nationally, the painting was secured at an auction at Sotheby's New York on Thursday - at about half the expected sale price, US$120,000.
"We were very lucky. New York was hit by a snow storm that day and the sale was very poorly attended, which I'm sure worked in our favour," said elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill, who led the campaign for the return of the painting to Watford.
December 9, 2002 11:30
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