Antiques Roadshow painting gets 'record-breaking' value before sad twist

Back in 2014, Antiques Roadshow revealed a 17th century portrait as the creation of celebrated Flemish artist Van Dyck, with the specialist disclosing it might fetch up to £400,000, marking one of the programme's most substantial ever appraisals.

Yet there was subsequently a crushing development when the artwork went under the hammer. The canvas had been purchased for £400 by Catholic priest Father Jamie MacLeod when he unwittingly spotted it in a Cheshire antiques outlet 12 years prior.

The extraordinary find was later examined by BBC presenter Richard Osman on his podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, where he disclosed the jaw-dropping assessment was amongst the show's most shocking moments.

He commented: "The most expensive item I could find that was actually somebody who had just bought something in a shop and turned up with it was a painting they bought for £400 in a thrift shop. And it turned out to be a £400,000 Van Dyck.", reports the Express.

During the episode, Father MacLeod was left speechless when host Fiona Bruce proposed it was by Baroque artist Sir Anthony Van Dyck whilst appearing on the cherished BBC show.

Fiona asked him to inspect it and after a thorough restoration procedure the artwork was verified by Dr Christopher Brown who ranks among the globe's foremost experts on Van Dyck.

Father MacLeod commented: "It has been a blessing to own this magnificent portrait which has given me great pleasure over the years.

"I will be sad to part with it, though the proceeds will be put to excellent use, going towards the acquisition of new church bells for Whaley Hall Ecumenical Retreat House in Derbyshire to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World in 2018."

Sir Anthony Van Dyck was born in modern-day Belgium but became the leading court painter in England after an invitation from King Charles I. Beyond his reputation for groundbreaking artwork, Van Dyck also lent his name to a distinctive style of facial hair.

The short pointed beard that appeared on countless subjects in his portraits led to the coining of the term "van dyke" beard.

The artwork, valued between £300,000 and £500,000, was believed to be a preliminary sketch for a work called the Magistrates Of Brussels which adorned the city's Town Hall before being obliterated during a French bombardment in 1695.

However, there was later a disappointing twist as the painting didn't land a bidder at auction at Christie's in London. The auction house confirmed it had failed to sell in the Old Master and British Paintings auction.

You can catch up on Antiques Roadshow on BBC iPlayer