Oil painting by one of Bristol's greatest artists to be auctioned

THIS oil painting by one of Bristol's greatest artists, isexpected to fetch up to GBP300,000 when it is auctioned by Sotheby'sat their Important British Pictures sale in London on June 13.

The picture, called Portrait of George Nugent Grenville, LordNugent, is by Bristol-born Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830).

Sir Thomas went on to become one of the greatest portrait paintersof his generation.

On March 30, 1820, his importance was confirmed when he waselected president of the Royal Academy in London.

Lawrence is one of only a handful of Bristol-born artists to beelected to the Royal Academy since it was founded in 1768.

The Lord Nugent portrait belonged to Russian ballet dancer RudolphNureyev and was last sold at auction in 1987 for GBP60,000.