In Scotland, a man was propping up a shed with a sculpture valued at millions of dollars. This piece was crafted over 300 years ago by the renowned sculptor Edmé Bouchardon. This was reported by Smithsonian magazine.
Around 1930, local authorities purchased the marble bust for 5 pounds, but it subsequently went missing. Later, the bust was found — it had been used to prop open doors in the shed. Now, it could be sold for over 3 million dollars.
The bust depicts John Gordon, a local landowner from the 18th century, who is regarded as the founder of the town of Inverness. Gordon came from a family of Scottish landowners and, while traveling through Europe, met Bouchardon in Rome, where the artist created the marble sculpture in 1728. The bust remained at the Gordon family’s Inverness Castle for many years.
Bouchardon is considered a precursor to Neoclassicism, a style from the late 18th century. He served as an artist at the court of French King Louis XV, and his most famous works include "The Fountain of the Four Seasons" (1745) and "Cupid Cutting a Bow from the Club of Hercules" (1750).
Currently, the artwork is under the control of the Highland Council. Local authorities have declined to display it themselves due to its value, although they have loaned it for an exhibition at the Louvre.
As a reminder, a 4.5-meter sculpture titled "Periwinkle Haven" was installed at the observation deck of the "Medmerry" nature reserve near Chichester (United Kingdom).