FAKE OR FORTUNE SE1EO4 WINSLOW HOMER 

There are many comments about the Blakes' contemptible behaviour here, but to me, the most egregious thing is that they called the police on her. They sent cops round to her home to harass her about "stolen property", when they continue to have not a shred of evidence that the item was ever stolen at all! It's such a clear attempt at intimidation, it's completely disgusting.

Case still not settled, as of 2023. Painting still in Sotheby’s NY. Selina should sell her story to Netflix!

"...we haven't got any other valuable pictures..." How would they know? They had a Winslow Homer and threw it in the trash!!

"Swimming pools and cars..."... How out of touch can you be?! That's her children's education and future right there, and he thinks she'd buy swimming pools and cars with the money...

This was a difficult episode to watch and fathom. For twenty years this painting languished. Not until Sotheby's appraised this at upwards of $250,000 did it attract attention. Suddenly, out of the woodwork comes the Blake family to claim it though it was never reported stolen or missing. Surprising is that the letters written by the two sisters, were carefully archived but the loss of a Winslow Homer painting never warranted reporting to the police or art world? The painting was obviously (along with the other five) considered trash and thrown out. That Selina's dad found them and took them as "discarded trash" made them public domain. A U.S. Supreme Court Decision in 1988, California vs Greenwood, found that garbage was public domain when left in the ‘outside curtilage’ of a home or property. I imagine in Ireland twenty some odd years ago, trash picking was/is equally public domain. As Selina also pointed out, if her dad hadn't brought the paintings home, they would have been destroyed by the elements. Whether the Blake family wants to claim the painting was of a family member, when it was discarded they lost ownership.

I know this video is like four years old and all. But when Blake says "I know she's already spending it on swimming pools and cars"... I think I'll remember that a long time. Is there a more unlikable person on the face of gods earth?

Only a lawyer would come up with such a creative way to not admit to being a lawyer. That's good enough for me to make up my mind.

Such a precious moment watching Selina be turned on to the emotional value of art, when she is with the curator of the Homer Collection. Such a shame that she was then so quickly introduced to the dark side of the art market.

You notice the family wasn’t demanding back the painting done by the grandmother , or the other paintings that were with it and the invitation with the grandparents pictures. They threw this junk out 20 years ago and now that they. Know it has value they want their trash back. That’s b.s. of the highest order.

Coincidentally he was in New York on 'holiday' just when the painting was to up for auction in NYC?!! Right. I had to pause I was laughing so hard. 😂 His stammering explanations were utter bs! And if she did decide to buy a new car and want a pool so what? How would it be anyone's business? Blake's are greedy liars.

there was no mention of it being stolen until Philip asked the question as to whether there had been any robberies. It was at that point that Blake jumped on that and in the next conversation said 'it was stolen from us'. Imo, more like when the young Blakes moved in they got the servants to clear our the old attic junk and the art piece was amongst the rubbish. The finders, i feel, do have a significant claim since the piece was found and kept without appropriation. The visit from the police was uncalled for, threatening handling of stolen goods and the like.. since to that date no records of burglaries etc,. Blake just wants the artwork, to keep it for 10yrs and then sell it. Cheap shot by Blake about Selina wanting to spend the money on cars when her prime interest was to invest in the future of her children and their education.

I do understand where the Blake family is coming from, but the way they spoke and their entitlement was insane. THEY were the ones who had "won the lottery," not her. They knew the painting originally belonged to their family, but they can't prove it wasn't sold, given away, thrown out or stolen. They have no evidence at all about what happened when this painting disappeared for 20 years and they didn't notice. And for him to call it a theft without any evidence is disgusting.

I couldn't sleep last night after watching this episode. Those Blakes are lying. It just washed over me. The guy back in England said they said no they had not had a burglery and weren't missing the picture. But the greedy grandson or who ever he is decided to play it for all it is worth. Ms. Varney, if you see this...keep it in court and don't give in. Write some letters to some rich "for the people" sort of art types to try to get some financial help or maybe start a Kickstarter campaign. Don't let that rich effen lawyer get one over on you. Read some case law at the nearest law library. I really hope he doesn' t get his filthy hands on that painting. It makes me ill. He's a Shyster plain and simple.

So, I've been drawing, painting, and photographing people for over 30 years. Body language and its relative honesty (greatly influenced by whether one is aware of being observed) are something you pick up on quickly. The lawyer boy who didn't want to admit he was a lawyer is lying through his teeth. And quite poorly. My deepest sympathies to Selina Varney and her family for what she has, and probably still is enduring at the hands of that lying little troll and his ilk. And shame on Sotheby's.

This really left a bitter taste so I’ve had to come back to leave a comment. Sotheby’s did their part in enquiring if there was an ownership claim by the Blake family (which is akin to dangling a carrot) but received no claim. Then in what appears to be a well timed and calculated move this man (with the legal training and knowhow) suddenly tries to stop the auction and then reduces his split to 70% in the full knowledge that Selina being a single mum of 4 will be forced to accept. This man was actually there at the auction (coincidentally on holiday) to gloat over his deed. If body language can tell a story then this man was clearly lying while answering Phillips questions. I wish I could use the words I am thinking to describe what I feel about this man.

The Blake family didn't even want the actual painting back, really! "Oh, you can still sell it. But we're demanding 75% if you do so" Clearly only about the money. I'd feel differently if only they wanted the art back for sentimental reasons - interesting also how it's the Homer painting they're most concerned about. They don't even seem so interested in reclaiming their own grandmother's painting. I believe they threw that neat little collection away, and shame on them for that.

If it was 'stolen' then it would have been reported to the Police but more telling - the insurance company. If there is no record of either it is highly unlikely that it was ever stolen let alone missed by these money grabbers!

Philip Mould's self control is admirable.

That Blake guy is just disgusting. It's so precious that it somehow ended up on a garbage dump without them even knowing it was valuable or who was on it, then when he figures out he can use the money suddenly he remembers family history and dear dear ancestors.

Those diary entries are so over the top I have a hard time believing they are genuine.

Wonder if Simon Murray's ancestress, Mrs Blake, who 'picked up' the earthenware jar in 'someone's back yard' paid for it? It'd fetch a tidy sum at Sotheby's today. Perhaps there exists a Bermudan struggling mother who'd like to seize it back over a century later?

Offering 25% to the finder can only be the act of a criminal lawyer!

Any detective could tell you that finding the homer sketch, unframed, in a tip, along with a watercolour by Lady Blake also unframed, were not valued by the family and likely tossed away. Until the lawyer got the information. And waited till the last moment hoping that he would pressure and intimidate that lovely young person into caving. Reprehensible. Then he reads the family letter out showing the provenance (which Phillip had already found in the newspaper article anyway) but also describing STEALING a decorative garden pot from (behind some cottage) and that they managed to hold on to that. Let's start a go fund me for that nice young woman and let the Homer sit in the vault at Sothebys. Oh and BTW, always use Christies!

The picture belongs to her. Period. "That phoney notebook with those super specific descriptions of the day that was painted? COME ON. Don't let him get away with that. You need to do a part 2 on this one. I have to know what happens.

That Jar is mine. My great grand father made it and I want it back. 55:03 Or you can auction it and keep 25%. I have a letter from my great grandfather, who describes it in a letter to his mother, and that is the one exactly as described.

Suddenly it was their picture -.- suuure... never reported it stolen, had no idea what picture it was when they were contacted (and yes, that auction house would have sent her a catalog! they aren't idiots). But now that it goes out for auction they notice it actually is an expensive painting and oops it's theirs. They are bancrupt and hope that she won't have the time/money to go through the legal process which will take years.

Blake and the auction house guy are both obviously lying. Their body language a complete giveaway

I have a hard time believing these super accurate letters are genuine. COME ON

That snobbish Blake person. I would make him prove that it was stolen. "Highly likely" is not good enough. Highly likely for me is that they cleaned out and were too stupid to see the value of the painting and dumped it themselves.

He wasn't lying when he said he was a Criminal barrister! Emphases on criminal in its adjectival form.

My first instinct: it was thrown out.

That Blake family is lying through their teeth

Harry potter wants his painting back that was stolen from Hogwarts, the marbles in his mouth confirm he is indeed blue blood and the owner of the painting that was so valuable he sent it for safe keeping to a rubbish dump.

Celina is right that if her father had not retrieved it, it would have been lost to the world.

After watching this I am so filled with questions. I do not believe that the letter Blake read from is from the family member he tries to give credit to. Others have said it was overly descriptive and I totally agree. How was that letter authenticated? Where is the original? Test the paper it was written on He only had a copy. Based on the video, that man from Sotheby's who talked with Fiona said that in his calls to the Blake family someone talked with the sister, who in turn talked with the mother and they knew nothing of the painting, had no documentation that they owned it and they had not had any burglaries. Has anyone shown that part of the video to the Blake family? So who is the liar - the man from Sotheby's that talked with Fiona and is on film explaining what calls he made and what was said or the Blake person who originally acted like he didn't know what the heck was going on and then a year later comes up with a supposed letter??? Originally that Blake person has some very odd body language, making statements that they needed the money because the house cost a lot to take care of. I am sure that the video that was presented here needed to be edited for the program, but it would be interesting to view all the film taken. I imagine there are possibly other clues and comments that have been made that might help this case. I have to rely on my 28 years in law enforcement to say that something is not correct with the Blake families involvement.

Seems to me despite the official protestations to the contrary, there was a lack of due diligence on the part of Sotheby's staff.. and perhaps as well on the part of the BBC presenters. This young woman Selena was put through unnecessary emotional stress and great expense with no apologies from anyone that I could see. I used to be a single mom -- I feel for her.

It was trashed & Selenes father saved it. It belongs to Selenes family!!!!

That young woman has far more character that the lawyer. She deserves ownership.She came by it honestly.

Corruption; I suggest they authenticate "His paperwork"

My heart goes to this lovely lady and her dad who found this painting in the rubbish tip. Karma will get back to this lawyer claiming it was stolen from them which is definitely very unlikely!

I’m absolutely shattered with the way this turned out. IF they thought so much of the painting, I would think they’d have reported it stolen. Upon investigation, the family had never reported it missing. And, IF someone stole it, why in the world would they turn around and toss it in a tip??? I believe the family tossed it...they probably weren’t interested in it any longer. That is, until they were contacted by Sotheby’s and only then realized, after tossing it YEARS AGO, that it had some real value. AND, making it sound as if Sotheby’s had not done their job - I think that can be attributed to their embarrassment of not realizing what they had literally tossed to the wind. They ought to be ashamed. Especially when the guy started commenting that the lady was already spending the money in her head - only to reveal later that they themselves “need” the money. What an a$$!!!!!

Interesting. I have not studied Personal Property in common law since 1968. but had thought I remembered that if a property was abandoned (a factual question) it became the property of the finder contrary to what the person stated here. Wiki states: "Property is generally deemed to have been abandoned if it is found in a place where the true owner likely intended to leave it, but is in such a condition that it is apparent that he or she has no intention of returning to claim it. Abandoned property generally becomes the property of whoever should find it and take possession of it first"

I found it funny that Philip, Fiona and the BBC ditched her and abandoned her at the last minute when she needed them the most. Great job BBC

Blake is a liar! They threw it away and now want to claim it back.

I’ve read the previous comments. It seems likely that the painting and the other bits were tossed out as a general cleaning as has been speculated. Let’s say that happened. It can never be proven. Let’s accept the diary entries as authentic. Let us also accept that the painting and bits of paper had languished somewhere in the house in storage for over 100 years. The painting was never displayed and the origin unknown to the Blake’s who may have tossed it with much other junk. Tony Varney found the items next to the closest dump to Myrtle Grove, three miles away. Assuming all these things as fact, Irish Common law either applies or it must be argued by the courts. So why is there no answer after 11 years? The only ones that will end up profiting will be the lawyers and not either family.

The Blake's need a swift kick in the arses. Oh we had a burglar 25-30 years ago and it just so happens these painting were part of the cache . Even though we have no documentationee

That Blake guy is disgusting, the way he talks about Salina. IT'S her picture

I realized after a bit that I had seen this before. The last time, I found the Blakes to be contemptible, greedy, revolting people, but this time my sense of outrage was worse.The descendant of the family made my skin crawl. He was disgusting. He needed the money for the upkeep of the "house"? Most contemptible was his nasty remark that Selena was probably already dreaming of swimming pools and such. So typical of the British so called "upper class" with their posh accents and sense of entitlement, when in fact they are so often lying, bullying, hypocrites. They sent the police her to home to accuse her of handling stolen goods. The twit claimed his mother knew nothing of the message left by Sotheby's, and when they tried to call back there was "something wrong with the number." The call came from Sotheby's in Ireland. Did no one know how to call information and get the correct number? The twit is a lawyer. If he's so inept that he can't think of dialing information I wouldn't want him anywhere near me if I'd been accused of handling stolen goods after picking up a penny on the street. So that whole story is a badly constructed lie. Then he said there had been a robbery. Another lie because when questioned, the sister said there had been no robbery. He also claimed that Sotheby's had never sent the mother a catalogue, when indeed they had. The biggest lie of all, and stupid as well, as Sotheby's could always have proven that had sent a catalogue. As to the alleged "robbery", why was it never reported to the police? Why did the twit not even know what had been stolen."? This was neither asked nor answered in the episode. Are we to believe that the thief stole only the painting and the article with the photo? Where was the painting when it was "stolen"? Hanging on the wall in their art room? Buried away somewhere in a trunk but the thief knew exactly where to look? And if there actually was a thief, and he stole the painting, knowing nothing about its importance or value, he threw the stolen goods into a tip just 3 miles from the house? And not even into the tip, but on top of a rubbish heap. Did no member of the family ever walk? I thought the British were famous for their love of walking. They could easily have recovered the painting themselves, long before Selena's father did. I'm willing to bet that someone in that family who couldn't tell art from arsehole of a cow, threw that painting away along with the photo of Mrs. Blake and the article. What an ugly ugly, story.

Wow this was a great story that took a disgusting, although unsurprising turn. Whenever people like the Blake’s get involved with things in this world all they see is what they can gain regardless of what it may do to anything else. They couldn’t care less about it being a portrait of ancestors. All they care about is the leverage that fact gives them in the value and ultimate sale of the artwork. Too bad. That Irish family is just the sort of people you feel good for when fortune blesses them.

Somebody in the family was cleaning out the attic and threw several watercolors away that they didn't want anymore (and too ignorant not to know who Winslow Homer was)! His signature alone was enough to determine it's authenticity as signatures are very hard to duplicate; plus, the style of painting was irrefutably a Homer watercolor. The painting wasn't stolen... it would've been sold on the black market, not thrown out in a junk heap, and nobody missed it enough to report it missing for over 20 years. Oh, and now the family suddenly wants to keep it just to prevent the finders of the painting from getting any proceeds from its sale! But if they get their way, they'll probably sell it anyway.

Here where I am at, Michigan, the second you put something out to the trash you have relinquished ownership and anyone can grab it. It is public property. There are even people that make a living doing that. Selena is the owner of that painting. She took care of it for all those years. To come back later and claim ownership, after it had been thrown away, is absurd. Where would it be had her father not rescued it?

How could the painting mean so much to the Blake family, when they never remembered owning it or even noticing it had been supposedly stolen. can't help but feel we've been conned by a posh rich con-man!

So in the young mr Blakes words the "clay pot was "found" in the garden " of the govenors house and was incorporated into the painting and here is a picture of it at Myrtle house now... so the govener took someones pot or the pot belonging to the official residence home to Ireland.... Would he like to return that antique to its rightful place and owner? Is he also handling stolen property? Pot calling kettle black here? I think the younger generation of Blakes have no idea of art either and had a good old attick cleanout of all those papers, hence no reported theft and now someone found the value of those old papers and lo... lets get our hands on the money to "upkeep the house" my bloody foot... live it up in new york while youre there old chap.

The Blake family threw it away twenty years previously, it had no value to them. It therefore becomes a finders keepers scenario.

Sotheby's pulled exactly the same move on me. At age 13 I won a WNEW-FM contest with the grand prize being George Harrison's hand-written lyrics to "It Don't Come Easy", which he wrote for Ringo. The lyrics were taped to Ringo's drum kit at the Concert For Bengla Desh. It is clearly seen in the film of the concert. I treasured this item for almost 35 years, and after George died thought it best to sell it. The day before the Sotheby's sale I get a call from Olivia Harrison saying the lyrics are not in her husbands handwriting, and that they were written by long-time Beatles stage manager Mal Evans. The sale went forward but with that phone call, the estimate went from $50k to $1k. There was nothing I could do at that point. Mal Evans was dead, WNEW had been bought by a conglomerate and claimed no knowledge, the DJ would made the representation, Scott Muni, had recently died as well. It was my word against Olivia Harrison's and it was obvious who was going to win.

Shame they just didn’t go 50/50 from the start. Now the lawyers are the ones that will profit.

Blake’s = Greed look into Irish history and it’s there.. I feel very sorry about this outcome .. the lawyer chap what a pompous thing .. suddenly the painting is so precious to them .. this is so unfair! Sorry 😐

Let his diary go through the same authentication process as the painting went through. His "original" diary. Not photocopied pages. Let's see the paper and the ink. Analyze it. See how he likes that.

So the Blakes are living in an "old named house" & they can't afford the upkeep - how sad, not really. This entire situation smells to high Heaven! The "diary entry" is very suspect. I'd like to see other written examples where the writer goes into such detail as describing the costumes the three children were wearing. I'm convinced that's not a typical diary entry & seems to be much too specific. Seems like the shyster "barrister" Blake is a sad & greedy bloke, apparently just like his entire entitled family.

The thing what got me was they did not want to explain their rejection on camera but had no problem rejecting her on camera. Which leads me to two questions why were they willing to pay her anything at all if they had questions about it's ownership? And two, why did the other guy not have receipts proving it belong to a family member. No this is how the rich treat those not in their class. As we saw in the weldinstein case.... Money talks. And why when I go after the rich in anything I come prepared. That bs. About courtesy and manners is used against those who are not in their class! The rich are nothing more than over dressed street thugs hiding behind fake ass manners. I am a student of sun tzu "the art of war''clan

I don't think the family ever owned the painting, even if it is Olive and her two brothers who are featured in it. I don't believe for one second those correspondence letters he presented in the end of the segment are authentic. Not only are they supposed copies of the originals, but the fact that they went overboard in their description of what they wore, who the artist was, and that there was a "huge earthenware jar" in the room. I mean really; why with all the things in the room would she have talked about that,..Oh yeah, because he just composed this letter while looking at the painting, and wanted to include everything in the image to prove his claim. Let's see the original letters and have them analyzed. How easy would it be to copy an old page with an upper header on it from someones old journal, white out the part that may have old handwriting on it, and compose a whole new letter? I think the painting was done by Homer, and given or sold to someone else in the area, and through the years, whoever the family was who originally owned it, forgot the story that went along with it over the generations, and someone came along and cleaned out a home of someone who had died, and figured it was just a print, or even not worth anything and tossed it out. I hate to see Fiona and Philip get duped like this...

this blake guy is a tool and a liar

They thought Lady Blake had painted it, so they gave it away with a lot of her other "junk". The person they gave the old stuff to, didn't need the ephemera and sketches - so they left them near the dump in case someone else wanted them. That painting was never stolen.

Shame, Sotheby's, shame!! How unprofessional! I'm a legal clerk handling very mundane, routine items and know better than to rely on a phone message. No photo with correspondence? You have got to be kidding me! Caught with your pants down on procedure, Sotheby's. Also, something stinks in the Blake family story. I wonder if the picture was given to someone, such as a former nanny of the pictured children (who conveniently no longer lives) and that person tossed it or if the person died, it was tossed by family cleaning up. Waaaaay too much not noticed, missed, overlooked by Sotheby's and Blakes. Dirty pool! Booo! Hisss!

Here's my two cents on this horrendous episode. I don't think that the Blake descendant was lying about his profession; he's on camera and this would have been brought out on the show. I think all round, the best compromise on this whole unfortunate situation was that Blake family should have offered her the orginal estimate that Phillip on Antiques Roadshow has suggested. 30,000 pounds is still much better than the 70% loss (this is dollars NOT Sterling) the Blake's were offering even if it met the estimate price. Mind you, factor auction fees and the then 2009 US/Pound rate. I work in law and I bid at both Sotheby's and Christie's on occasion so I think all round this would have worked if thought of if it had. The Blakes keep the watercolour and Selina gets her 30k. But it's deeply unfortunate. I personally think that Sotheby's deferred too readily without an injuction which is unheard of because he's barrister and the family's landed gentry status frankly.

It was stolen from them, but they weren't even aware that it was missing. And, actually, they didn't know that the painting even existed before this! What an odd and unconvincing situation. Selena developed an emotional attachment to this painting and was the rightful owner, especially since so much time had lapsed since it had been found. In this situation, I strongly believe that they should have let sleeping dogs lie and sold the watercolour without trying to dig into the past. PS I have just had another thought. If Selena's dad hadn't found the painting, it probably would have been lost forever. That being the case, he actually rescued the painting. A 50 - 50 split would settle this once and for all.

How did they agree with a copy of some diary page .. he didnt even carry the original diary ..it's some photocopy

Like the way the Blake guy quotes EXACTLY the painting from the diary. Anyone could have written that bullshit!

SOTHEBY'S and the Blake family has covered themselves in shame and infamy. It was thrown out.

I wonder, 4 years from then (2018-2022) , what has become of this case? Again a absolutely fascinating episode ! Thanks for downloading!

"How incredible is that?", Fiona asked as the Blake heir read the supposed letter. Yes. Very incredible. As in *not at all* credible. I was already doubting its authenticity, but when he added the bit about the earthenware jar (the painting of which is hardly identical to the photo of one supposedly at their house)? It's as though his ancestor was writing to provide provenancial evidence over a hundred years ago. Too on the money to be believed. I could almost believe that she wrote a letter mentioning the fancy dress and Homer's painting, although it reads like a modern person imitating a Victorian voice. However, the mention of the jar seems way too forced. I don't believe it for a minute. And he still has no explanation for how the painting came to be found where it was, and no believable explanation for why the family waited until the last moment to stop the sale.

Actually it's a very beautiful watercolour painting, also now it has possible subjects, the children at the ball with the invitation and theme. Well it's almost like you were there.

I do not understand how Sotheby's had the right to keep the painting in their vaults? The Blake's had not filed an injunction.

I don't know what the applicable law is in Ireland, but in the US once something is discarded it is no longer legally your property. This is why the police can go through your trash for evidence without a warrant. The Blakes threw it out and in the US it would no longer be theirs.

How convenient to go and find a letter that proves they had the painting they didn't know they had, didn't know was stolen and which may have been a fake (their copy).

“I was a criminal lawyer....... now I’m just a criminal!

Fact remains, had her father not found it and rescued it, they would have never guessed it was there. These heirs at Myrtle house should show more gratitude for its appearance after 9yrs when it could have been ruined. This family's act has great value for them.

August 2018 -- unbelievable, but the case still is not settled!

I really want to know what the final outcome was. This story was filmed over a decade ago but I can't find anything online about it after 2013, when it was still unresolved... Surely the courts will have come to a decision by now?!

Make a Solomon decision and get done with it The owner never could have sold it without the finder and the finder never could have sold it without the picture. So again: Solomon decision 50/50 !!

This is my favorite episode of this terrific series. I’ve watched it 4-5 times now and still can’t get enough of all the drama, twists and turns.

At least we can say that a fine work of art by a notable artist has been rescued, saved, authenticated and in a safe place at this point.

I find this whole story sad and murky. Shame on yous Southerby's for your amateurish handling of this. Yous can talk to the Blake family but not Selina. I would have thought a theft of something so valuable would have been reported to the Police, Insurance claim and more than likely some sort of write up in a paper about the burglary would have stood well for the Blake families claim of ownership. As for the so called letter. It documents everything about the costumes and surroundings just a little too well . I am left wondering if the rich have fallen on poor times.

I think this is my favorite episode of Fake or Fortune? With Clifford Schorer's now claim to the painting, based on collateral to a loan he made to Selena, was a pretty smart move: I think this would mean she got her 100K pounds which she would have received from the sale (who knows, possibly even more), hence hoodwinking that *lying* *tosser* *Simon* *Murray.* I loved the bit with the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. When I was a teen in boarding school out in the Berkshires (the western part of Massachusetts, in Williamstown) I day tripped to the Clark quite often; this is where I became familiar with "Undertow", as well as other works and artists. A couple years back, I visited the Clark, and "Undertow" was the first piece off the vestibule; the description plaque beside the painting makes mention about the piece being included in this episode of Fake or Fortune?, which made me really happy.

I so wish that Fiona, the expert and the BBC keep up support for Selina. And not just let it go (and mingle with their upper Class to keep advantages. It does not look much like it.

2020, back again: it's the Jarndyce v Jarndyce of the art market. This is thee most compelling and dramatic episode of the series. And Simon Murray is a big fat liar!

Why can't they check up on that diary authenticity?

If you're interested, the mother sued for the painting, and another claimant emerged saying the painting was collateral for a loan. The mother's case is Rountree v Rendall.

The strange thing i found while watching is how these letters all of a sudden turned up and of course were copys then they say out of the blue there was a break in , but of course no police record all in all i think the correct thing to do in this situation would be to sell the painting and half the money

Sotheby's completely dropped the ball on the "Due Diligence" in this case. As of 2019 Sotheby's charges 10% sellers fees & 25% buyers premium. If the painting sold for $250,000, that would mean Selina Varney would have paid Sotheby's $25,000 and the buyer would have paid a premium of $72,000. That's a $97,000 ball that they dropped. If the Homer does wind up going to auction and selling for more, Sotheby's should have to forfeit their fees and premium to Selina Varney for putting her through this nightmare.

The rich taking always, never relinquishing anything to the poor... from the dawn of time.

Would be nice to have an update on this 4 years later. It certainly was emotive viewing and somehow so many issues just did not seem right. Felt very sorry for the young mum, hope it is now resolved and everyone happy,

When Sotheby's was trying to con her without injunction, she should have said that she claimed ownership of the whole rest of items in auction that day without proof. Would have we seen they stopping all auctions just like hers or not?

The Blake descendent is a weasel.

That liar from Blake Family had that Winslow Homer in their Garage in a dusty bin until someone trashed it with clean out and now wants 75% of the sale. Greedy bastards, if it wasn't for that women's family that painting would have been destroyed at the dumpster

Absolutely pathetic that anyone can claim a picture 20 years later that was thrown out just because they say so OR it belonged to a family member so far back that they never even know him. Disgusting, Harry Potter is a liar and a thief. His mother spoke with the Sotherby , they received a catalog and Harry Potter is greedy and disgusting 🤮

Such a shame that the Blake family had descendants and that those descendants are such a nasty bunch.

The family who found the painting should have been fully warned about the risks of the previous owners making a claim with need for open transparency of the risks BEFORE any agreement was made with Sotheby’s and before the painting cams under the legal jurisdiction of the United States. There should have been a clear strategy in place to deal with any such situation well in advance to avoid the absolute shambles of the sale being cancelled and the finder being subjected to ridiculous claims which sounded like blackmail

Blake.. What a crybaby! Have owned it (maby). Is not the same thing at owning it now. If he wants it. He can buy it at the auction. But then he probably cant afford it.. They just trying to pressure her to give up. Ignorant people tactics..

I am severely revolted by that Blake guy's attitude towards a single mother selling a painting her father found in a dumpster. She has four kids who she raises alone on a much lower salary than a lawyer. His assumptions, firstly, of her use of the money is "pools" and "cars" which is ridiculously extravagant in comparison to what she will probably use the money for... This truly expresses his impressions of lower socio-economic groups and how they are apparently insensitive with money. Secondly, he certainly did not care for the painting, nor did his family, until they discovered its value. The family does not need the money, "Murray" is a lawyer and former barrister, I honestly assume that this guy wants to keep it for himself to buy such "cars" that he speaks of Selena buying. This episode shows the absolutely horrendous classist viewpoints that wealthier people hold that I often forget about as I am, too, well off. Sotheby's should not have allowed these events to unfold in the manner that they did. Shame on Sotheby's and even more shame on the greedy Blake family. I feel incredibly sorry for Selina and I hope she received (or receives) her fair share in the end... Which is 100%!