Princess Diana's Family Selling Off Art

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Mar 30th 2010 at 7:00PM

rubens, a commander being armed for battle

The family of the late Princess Diana is selling off some of its famous art collection. "A Commander being armed for Battle" painted in either 1613 or 1614 by Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens is hoped to bring 8-12 million pounds ($12-18 million) when it goes on sale at Christie's in London on July 6 as part of an old masters sale. The painting has been at the Spencer family home, Althorp for more than 200 years. Although it was originally described as being in the "school of Rubens" it has now been identified by noted scholars as being painted by the master himself.

The painting is part of a Spencer collection sell-off of approximately $30 million designed to help preserve the family home. Althorp is undergoing a major restoration and the trustees of the estate decided to sell artwork deemed not integral to the Spencer Collection. Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, is head of the estate, and plans to marry for a third time later this year.

Tags: althorp, art, art for sale, earl spencer, peter paul rubens, princess diana, rubens, spencer collection

Filed under: Auctions, Art

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

KatieCouric'sNemesis Mar 31st 2010 9:08PM

No wonder Spencer needs the money to renovate! He's marrying for the THIRD time? How many millions of pounds has he LOST in divorce settlements?

Is he still living in Africa, since his comments against the royal family at Diana's funeral? There's where more money is siphoned off.

Gee, life's tough when you have to sell off Dutch masters to pay for your ancestral pile's upgrades.

lizzie Mar 31st 2010 9:25PM

Nemesis, What gives you the right to judge? You sound awfully bitter.

Lisa Mar 31st 2010 10:15PM

WOW!!!Recession is everywhere

Marcie Mar 31st 2010 10:39PM

A Rubens painting worth $12 to $18 million "isn't integral" to their art collection??? Must be nice.

Marcie Mar 31st 2010 10:41PM

A Rubens painting worth $12 to $18 million "isn't integral" to their art collection? Must be nice! I wonder if they have some dusty old Rembrandts laying around that they don't want......

Martha Mar 31st 2010 10:43PM

A Rubens worth $12 to $18 million "isn't integral" to their art collection? Must be nice! I wonder if they have any dusty old Rembrandts they don't want?

Michael R. Mar 31st 2010 11:29PM

It's really no ones business but the Spencers. They have been fortunate enough to invest in their future with some world-class art through the years. I say good show! At least they have the foresight to realize that the future is neither free nor cheap.

So learn a lesson from those that like to retain their wealth, I guarantee they didn't pay that much for that piece of artwork.

curious Apr 1st 2010 12:08AM

I doubt they paid anything for it............

magyymae1 Mar 31st 2010 11:44PM

I mean, heaven forbid anyone have to work to save the family digs!

Camelot Apr 1st 2010 12:14AM

I sure wouldn't want that hanging on my wall. I don't care who painted it. I wouldn't want to be looking at that guy in the paintng every day.

LINDA Apr 1st 2010 12:44AM

OH YES DO SELL OFF MORE OF PRINCESS DIANA'S THINGS FOR THAT THIRD WALK DOWN THE ASILE THAT WAY IF THIS ONE FAILS TOO SHE HAS MONEY SHE CAN TAKE WITH THE DIVORCE,DON'T THINK TWICE THAT DIANA LOVED IT AND MAY OF WANTED IT TO STAY WITH FAMILY,JUST MAKE SURE YOU GET THAT $MILLION DOLLAR WALK DOWN THE ASILE FOR THE THIRD TIME YOU ARE SO UNBELIEVABLE,I GUESS THATS WHY THEY SAY THE BRITISH ARE A COLD BREED THIS SURE SAYS ICE IN THE VIENS KIND OF THING!!!!!

John Bennett Apr 1st 2010 1:09AM

More comments on here about money and how much things in the art world
are really worth vs how old and 'fine' art really creates moods looking at it, they
didn't have cameras back then. To me, that painting stands out too much for
my taste with the warrior looking back at you with his off-duty henchmen trying to
get him ready for battle.His armor is way to shiny for that.(pre-chrome era then)