An 18th century portrait believed to be that of Jacobite heroine Flora MacDonald, is to be sold with a £168,000 asking price.
The oil painting bought for £1,000 in an American art gallery, was painted by Allan Ramsay – the same Edinburgh artist who painted the iconic portraits of Flora, who famously helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape dressed as her maid Betty Burke after his Culloden defeat of 1746.
The work, thought top be the earliest known of South Uist born Flora by Ramsay, is expected to reach even higher than its $250,000 reserve.
A 1749 self-portrait by Ramsay was sold by Christies for £289,250 in 2008.
The newly discovered work by the painter only came to light when the frame was removed to reveal Ramsay’s signature.
The painting is being restored ready for sale.
Ramsay, who lived from 1713 to 1784, is recognised as one of the most talented and prominent portraitists of 18th century Britain.
American art buff Raphael Jorge stumbled across the chance find in Florida.
In 1774, Flora and her husband Allan emigrated to North Carolina. During the American War of Independence Captain MacDonald served the British government in the 84th Regiment of Foot.
Five years later Flora returned to Scotland.
She died at Kingsburgh on Skye in 1790, aged 68 and is buried in Kilmuir Cemetery.
The newly discovered work was apparently painted from life, well before she gained fame as the woman who helped Prince Charles Edward Stuart escape.
Mr Jorge, 38, was first attracted to the oil painting because of the French style of portraiture, brush techniques that art historians know influenced Ramsay’s work.
Flora’s guardians sent her to boarding school in Edinburgh’s Old Stamp Office, close to High Street, and adjacent to Castle Hill, where Ramsay was at the same period painting and living in his father’s house.
“I knew Flora MacDonald lived in North Carolina,” said Mr Jorge. “I would go as far as to say this painting was brought over by Flora MacDonald from Scotland to North Carolina.
“I’m completely satisfied with the expert opinions I have that this is a Flora MacDonald portrait by Allan Ramsay early 1740’s.
“I would really hope that I find a buyer from Scotland, it would be nice to have the portrait where it is most historically important and I know how important Allan Ramsay and Flora MacDonald are to the Scottish culture.”