Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest gets a staggering appraisal for painting related to Jack the Ripper case (marketrealist.com)
A painting with a chilling connection to Jack the Ripper recently surfaced on the BBC’s “Antiques Roadshow,” captivating viewers and experts alike. The portrait depicts Dr. Thomas Bond, a police surgeon who worked on the infamous Ripper murders, and was brought to the show by his great-great-granddaughter.
Dr. Bond’s work on the case was groundbreaking.
According to the owner’s husband, he pioneered medical profiling, challenging the popular theory that Jack the Ripper possessed surgical expertise. The portrait itself was painted by renowned artist George Frederick Watts, adding another layer of intrigue to the piece.
“He [Dr. Bond] started to do what was thought to be the first medical profiling,” the owner’s husband explained. “There were some thoughts at the time that Jack the Ripper had medical knowledge or was a surgeon, and Doctor Thomas Bond was very clear that this was the work of someone that didn’t have surgical skills.”
Historian and “Antiques Roadshow” expert Lawrence Hendra was captivated by the painting’s historical significance. While Watts was known for his large-scale works, he occasionally took on portrait commissions.
Hendra noted the sitter’s importance as a pioneer in his field, mirroring Watts’ own artistic innovation. He estimated the painting’s value between $10,000 and $16,000.
The owners, however, have no intention of selling. Instead, they are exploring options for loaning the portrait to a gallery, potentially the Watts Gallery, to share this piece of history with a wider audience.
“Fabulous, we shall have to look after it,” the owner remarked upon hearing the valuation. The expert agreed, emphasizing the significance of both the artist and the subject’s story.