The Eden Madonna - Murillo's Madonna of the Rosary in Windlestone Hall and in Hollywood

Anthony Eden was one of the great English statesmen of the 20th century; he was Foreign Secretary under Winston Churchill, and later held the office of Prime Minister. He was born at Windlestone Hall, the family home. He thus grew up with Murillo's Madonna of the Rosary, and would have been told from a young age how his great-grandfather acquired the painting in Seville in 1834.

His great-grandfather, Sir William Eden, 6th Baronet of West Auckland and 4th Baronet of Maryland, was as wealthy as he was educated, worldly and well-travelled. Above all, however, he was passionate about Spanish art, especially the paintings of Murillo. He made two trips to Spain in the 1830s, visiting Spanish collections, palaces and churches, and especially studying the works of the Siglo de Oro, the Golden Age of Spanish painting. In Spain, he met numerous English compatriots and like-minded people, diplomats, merchants, and travellers. This is also how he met Julian Benjamin Williams, art dealer and connoisseur.

One may regret this sale by Anthony Eden's brother; however, this brought the painting to the United States, to the Newhouse Gallery, which sold it to the famous composer and pianist José Iturbi, who may have acquired it as a reminder of his Spanish homeland. When Iturbi's estate was auctioned in Los Angeles in 2008, nearly three decades after his death, to benefit his foundation, the history of Murillo's Madonna of the Rosary was long forgotten. And so it happened that its art historical significance was completely misjudged when it was auctioned off as a workshop replica.

One may regret this sale by Anthony Eden's brother, but it brought the painting to the Newhouse Gallery in the United States, which in turn sold it to the famous composer and pianist José Iturbi, who must have acquired it as an artistic reminder of his Spanish homeland. When Iturbi's estate was auctioned in 2008, almost three decades after his death, for the benefit of his foundation in Los Angeles, the chequered history of Murillo's Rosary Madonna was long forgotten. And so it happened that its art-historical significance was completely misjudged when it was auctioned off as a workshop replica.