4/4 The Lost Portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie: A Culture Show Special

First broadcast: Feb 2014.
In 2009, art detective Dr Bendor Grosvenor caused a national scandal by proving that the Scottish National Portrait Gallery's iconic portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the rebel Stuart who almost seized power in 1745, was not in fact him. Keen to make amends, and suspecting that a long-lost portrait of the prince by one of Scotland's greatest artists, Allan Ramsay, might still survive, Bendor decides to retrace Charles' journey in the hope of unravelling one of the greatest mysteries in British art.

[@finch45lear]

What a wonderful story. Please know how grateful I am for the opportunity to see such quality productions. Thank you.

[@weemama]

Very interesting account and lovely portrait. But I disagree that Charles had no other choice than to run away back into exile. He had Richard’s choice, to die on the battle field but to die in honor. I sympathize with the highlander who called him a coward.

[@stargazerlse]

Bendor is SO good at what he does, it's INCREDIBLE to see!

[@SandraNelson063]

Thankfully, the portrait hung in a DARK hallway, away from sun and smoke. And it was mistakenly attributed to another artist in the main painting catalogue in London. It was safely allowed to hide and be protected in that quiet corner for generations. Just waiting for it's chance to shine. The family knew who it was, but wisely let the rest of the world believe it was the copy of an engraving. I suppose having Henry's portrait wrongly identified as Charles for so long helped keep the real one stay hidden. After all, you would have had to KNOW that the small Ramsay in that dark hall WAS the real Charles to understand that the French pastel portrait was NOT Charles. You have to be just a little bit mad to do what Dr. Grosvenor does.

[@vennythung6908]

i saw the painting 3 days ago at the Scotland National Portrait Gallery. Majestic!

[@suehorn4182]

How wonderful

[@Dr10Jeeps]

What a wonderful documentary! Anything by the BBC with Dr. Bendor Grosvenor in it is going to be worth watching. A hearty thank you from this Canadian.

[@PandaMackify]

Lady Weimes is lovely

[@amandad401]

This was a fantastic documentary... and I'm (admittedly) the least artistic person I know. It was fascinating. Thank you for posting.

[@mitsuomits9077]

One is not a real good painting expert if one doesn't always carry a paint brush in one's pocket! 😄... Loved this special. thanks so much for the good job with the divided videos!!!

[@roncobb3449]

This was such a great series of videos. Thank you Bendor Grosvenor

[@CallieMasters5000]

Shelagh Kathleen Charteris, Dowager Countess of Wemyss and March, shown in this video, died on Feb. 4, 2019. Her husband (12th Earl) died in 2008. They married in 1995, the same year that the Earl's son (the current 13th Earl) married for the second time as well. Both the father and son married women of the same age in 1995, as Shelagh was 32 years younger than her 83 year old husband at the time. She was from Vancouver originally, as you might hear from her accent.

[@monkeytennis8861]

Absolutely no one:

[@TKMINES1]

Awesome work Bendor ! I hope to see more of your presentations .

[@oscresson]

"A tremendous sense of immediacy" (7:23 to 9:52) describes these two experts in the moment of discovery. So real. Glad you shared this. Bravo.

[@billyb37]

Really great programe , i am scottish and although it was a foolhardy enterprise ,there is something for a scott that still tugs at the heart strings when you see this portrait of the prince.

[@tsf5-productions]

Thanks to "Art Documentaries" via Face Book. Very good documentary of a U.K. hero of the past. Wish my deceased mother (of 18 years) was around to see this special. Why? Because in her detailed genealogy of her side of the family showed that we are directly related to Flora Macdonald and to have the famous portrait artist of Scotland, Allan Ramsay, paint a portrait of Flora back in 1749...that would have thrilled her with pride in the family. Jones was Mom's last maiden name...her genealogy traced the roots all the way back to The Battle of Hastings in 1066. She had to trace roots back with the name De Beville. Scotland is the number 1 country in Europe I would love to see before my end. And, being closer to 67 (about the same age as Flora was when she passed away), I hope soon.

[@robertmusacchio3088]

GO !!!!!!!!! It's never too late.

[@monkeytennis8861]

Why do Americans feel the need to spout this kind of rubbish?

[@nancymilawski1048]

@@monkeytennis8861 what is rubbish???

[@ironpirites]

Lady Wemyss is impressive. There are a lot of fine qualities flickering across her face.

[@trishmarloe5640]

I was mesmerized, by her wonderful countenance.

[@nomebear]

She was very composed and yet you could tell that she was thrilled to know that she might have an exact image of the prince. This was an amazing discovery.

[@mikkiduf]

She sounds American

[@CallieMasters5000]

@@mikkiduf she's from Vancouver

[@simonsez464]

This was great to watch. Thanks.

[@carolynlambert4543]

Bendor just loved your presentation, research & eventual joy in finding Bonnie Prince Charlie, well done ⭐️⭐️⭐️ thank you from South Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@GILLEBRATH]

Educational . Interesting history Allen Ramsey had great talent . Thank you

[@josephwolfe1833]

Is there a posting somewhere about how he disproved the other portrait - that would be interesting!

[@STICKITINYOUREAR]

Thank You. This was absolutely wonderful to watch. Dr Grosvenor is a really smart guy.

[@hirschowitz1]

Spellbinding….. thank you.

[@countdownda]

feel like you're watching history

[@aricar325]

Just watched all 4 of 4 and this was such fun. Lovely to see Dr. Grosvenor take the lead in a show.

[@flintgahan4815]

Absolutely. Magic thankyou Bendore

[@helenangus1675]

Really enjoyed this documentary.

[@georgemorgan5906]

Great story of a lost face!! Wonderful!

[@michaelboylan5308]

Oh Dr Grosvenor,,,why did you waste your splendid talents on that trashy Fake or Fortune series,,,your enthusiasm for the good Prince and your appreciation of Allan Ramsay does you great credit

[@monkeytennis8861]

What the hell are you on about?

[@doloresm7396]

Wow, outstanding! Regards from America.

[@bass13mary]

Sometimes they do these shows already knowing the outcome. Nonetheless I really enjoy them.

[@thekitowl]

Can you imagine what these programs would be like if they didn’t.

[@elizabethblackwell6242]

Fantastic program. Thanks for uploading.

[@judithburke1539]

What an accomplishment on your part. Great sleuthing!!! Wonderful cafe racing motorcycle as well. What a great steed for your travels!

[@lindahedman3115]

Wonderful presentation, and beautiful portrait.

[@gemolibre]

A splendid film. Very emotional and moving.

[@pls_convert_2_a_JW]

Completely captivated for the duration. Many thanks for the documentary.

[@christinevanzyl5951]

Loved this series and the portrait of someone i sang a song about as a girl some 60 odd years ago. Thank u. Happy 4 u to have given Scotland back her bonnie prince.

[@vickinoeske1711]

Wonderful series. Enjoyed it very much.

[@arrans]

Great documentary! Thank you!

[@boojay111]

wonderful work by all and the cameramen/women their composition of landscape is divine

[@amandabanks1681]

Fabulously suspenseful search and the historical context was enlightening. I hope to see this beautiful painting in person one day.

[@stevenedwards4470]

Yeah. Lucky they had that van to cart back a painting I'm fairly certain they expected to find and had pre arranged permission to take. Don't be naïve

[@toff358]

Even if you`re right about pre arranged permission, and I`m certainly not assuming that you are, so what and what has that to do with someone simply expressing the hope to one day see the portrait? Of *course* they expected to find it! - research in London had clearly indicated its location in the care of the Earl of Weyms and March, the only question being whether it was a contemporary portrait and by Allan Ramsay. Don`t be such an egotistical bore...

[@stevenedwards4470]

You think I'm an egotistical bore for being annoyed at having to sit thru yet another of hundreds of similar videos where they frame the documentary as a great treasure hunt to draw viewers? Where they draw out the chase for an hour or more and waste our time with material that could easily be disseminated in 5 to 7 minutes? Well excuse the fuck out of me. After I see a cinematic trope used a few thousand times I get a little testy and wonder where honest and creative narrative went. But more power to you if this kept you on the edge of your seat.

[@toff358]

Oh dear, you really are an angry wee fellow, are you not?! This programme was presented here as a four parter of roughly 13 minutes duration each. Yet despite apparently feeling that it was, like so many "hundreds of similar videos" you declare that you`ve been "having to sit through" (who has actually been forcing you to do so?!), and that it is a "great treasure hunt to draw in viewers", etc, etc, you watched it in its entirety?? If indeed you have and continue to sit through "hundreds of similar videos" in what you it would appear to pretty much feel is the fairly certain knowledge that you`re about to watch what you consider to be "a cinematic trope used a thousand times", that surely suggests a degree of bloody minded silliness as well as the bore factor. Alternatively of course, perhaps you simply feel that you must see these troublesome things through in order to be able to make the kind of grumpy, cynical boorish comment that you originally made. You could of course always consider simply voicing your displeasure to no one in particular rather than directing it to a previous commenter who was simply voicing an appreciation....

[@stevenedwards4470]

@@toff358 You're an Oak Island fan aren't you?

[@RACHELTAYLOR7]

thanks for posting.It was great too see the portrait

[@charleybarley939]

And that house!

[@GrahamCLester]

Given the existence of the letter to Ramsay, it's a bit surprising that nobody found this portrait earlier.

[@Mercmad]

it has possibly been there since it was painted or the anti Jacobite feelings from London Died down.

[@carbugnov1952]

AMazing documentary. thank you for the excellent explanation on historical sites. it was a lesson in history and art appreciation.

[@hectorbrown656]

Fantastic documentary , I enjoyed ever minute .

[@robhappe2705]

Very nice doc! Thank you.

[@nicknickleton-kumordjie4]

It is extraordinary that it has to take such effort to find a portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie; some 200 years after the fact.

[@monkeytennis8861]

350

[@watchmedo635]

Bendor’s chuffed and rightly so ✨ wonderful work!

[@dloadthis1617]

Your perseverance paid off! Good job! I was shocked you actually found the painting in a darkened hallway and had to use a flashlight to see it for the first time. I can't imagine the joy you felt when you first laid your eyes upon it? THANK YOU! 👋👋👋👋

[@boojay111]

more of these please, even though I have seen them all, such a brilliant series

[@gilgalbiblewheel6313]

Wasn’t there a hope to make Bonnie Prince Charles as king over America before George Washington?

[@lucycondon3960]

preparing myself for my upcoming trip to Scotland I stumbled upon this glorious Artistic and Historic view of Bonnie Prince Charlie-Thank you ever so much!!!

[@monkeytennis8861]

Weird preparation

[@FlaMan991]

Hanging down the hall next to the laundry room....

[@misspuppa]

Love it thx

[@sandygentry8455]

Absolutely loved this.

[@jeanhawken4482]

Wonderful

[@georgerobinson2572]

Excellent documentary. Could I suggest trying to trace the painting of Greyfriars Bobby by Gourlay Steell could be attempted? The painting of the terrier by John McLeod hangs in the visitors' centre in Greyfriars Kirk. John McLeod is buried in the Old Calton Cemetery.

[@blaircarnegie2738]

Excellent!!

[@barbarapatterson4132]

A beautiful painting. Thank goodness it survived in a unknow place. Now a family has a painting they never dreamedvwas a original.

[@MrJimclyde]

Who saved him? Flora McDonald! "Over the sea to Skye"

[@mak7587]

Bravo. Well done. I hope there will be many copies to replace Henry.

[@jackduffy1817]

In the late 1990s I walked the West coast trail from Bamfield to Port Renfroo some 50 pluse miles, I dressed in a killt and a sporen, A tattoo of a scaindoo on my right carf, The kilt was a hunting MacIntyer, I was 60 years old. I used a black- thorn Cain and cared a 60 lbs pack, And I wore a tartan bonet, In my thoughts, The RED-COATS- were two days behind me. I Marched alone. Most evenings I sat alone preparing my food, And planning my next move, This was working for me. The following year did the same thing, But the other way around, From port- Renfroo to Bamfield. I was protecting Cherlie. PS I live in Vancouver - Canada.

[@oaktharas]

thats 30 years ago.....how old are you sir?

[@suehorn4182]

I could watch these shows every day

[@coopsevy5664]

My heart sunk at the condition of such historical art. Why isn't this seal in a air tight box or being cared for. This is sad to see it cracking and being dried out as such... Please allow someone to help restore this historical piece for all to view. Aw she is so sweet. What a nice woman.

[@DavidAnderson-u2z]

Whaaaat?! Took it on a motorcycle?!

[@voraciousreader3341]

*WHAT?!? NO MUSIC CREDIT GIVEN?!?!?* I nearly didn’t subscribe to this channel, until my eyes and brain cleared and I realized it’s not the channel’s fault (DUH!!). So I’ve happily subscribed, and have transferred my great irritation to the producers of the show, bc the music absolutely sends this episode skyward!

[@billyb37]

How much would such a painting be worth ???

[@neganalways6813]

A kingdom.

[@voraciousreader3341]

All of the fascinating content aside, the photography and music for this episode are simply stunning. I’ve watched so many crap documentaries lately-even British ones; not by the BBC, of course, but still astonishing and maddening-where some aspect is gawd awful and can’t be gotten around, and it just ruins the content part. So this is lovely, to watch, to listen to, with great narration. _AND_ excellent content!

[@lilelan2233]

This made my Day today. Such a beautiful painting of Bonnie Prince Charlie love love LOVE the History!

[@carolweideman1905]

What a sweet woman who owns the painting

[@dilihopa]

I hope the painting has been donated to the Scotland National Portrait Gallery for everyone to view and enjoy.

[@Jude74]

It’s been on display there for at least five years I believe

[@rebeccabeaton9237]

A compelling portrait. Historical events so often turn on opportunities not taken and lost. So much devastation and death in support of " the King over the water".

[@tothelighthouse9843]

The painting is very intriguing. At first, Bonnie Prince Charlie appears rather unassuming & unprepossessing--not at all the sort of man who made history & led armies. But the longer you look at him, the more steely & certain his eyes become. He looks as if once he set his mind to a purpose, he would walk to the ends of the earth to achieve it. Indefatigable & determined, the longer you hold his stare the more you realize you defy him & his iron will at your own peril. He appears almost to be looking **past** the viewer into future or past events we cannot see.

[@jrelliott6550]

Why does the host, to me, resemble the wax work of madame Tussaud's King Louis XVI?

[@eslermanu47]

Fantastic programm thank you for finding this picture of my history hero .

[@marvins1691]

a shame the portrait is hidden in that dark gloomy manor home again it should be in a place where peole can view it..

[@chiasanzes9770]

It is not in the manor anymore

[@thepz22]

Dr bendor always amazed me since i saw fake and fortune he is an expert & has passion. I want to see all his doing.

[@cskarbek1]

HUZZZAHHHH FOR BENDOR! well done, my lad

[@EnergyMedicine2012]

Absolutely brilliant, well done Grosvenor

[@MrPrimeMuscle]

I have seen po

[@josephwolfe1833]

Does anyone know if the Lady Wemyss is connected in any way to the Wemyss pottery in Scotland, I would assume it is a fairly uncommon name?

[@mscott3918]

Joseph Wolfe The Wemyss pottery is in the town of Wemyss, from which the Earl and Countess of Wemyss take their title.

[@533nicky]

wonderful....but damn the cringe music......

[@pchabanowich]

💐

[@mydigicraftscrafts8649]

Too creepy for my liking .

[@JC1533-g7n]

Bonnie Prince Papist, who primarily cared about being King of ENGLAND - not my idea of a Scottish icon.

[@Gabriel21733]

This is ridiculous! Driving to see a countess in bike gear, borrowing a seemingly valuable painting and taking it ON A BIKE to an expert. Crazy.

[@shawnstone72]

He didn't take it on the bike. It was in the truck behind him.

[@Fangs4DaMemories]

Um, he states he's ESCORTING the painting on his motorbike. Want to get all up in arms about something a little more serious? *rolls eyes*

[@w.urlitzer1869]

it wasnt, it was in the van following him

[@jackduffy1817]

Gabriel21733 The Painting was in the van, The motor-bike was the escort. Makes Sense.

[@bluezauza]

Yes you are ridiculous, where did you see that and what made you make that statement?