Children Under a Palm

[3] The painting was not framed and was subsequently included among a number of works by Lady Blake who was herself an amateur artist.

After colonial service in Jamaica and Hong Kong, the Blakes retired to Myrtle Grove in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland.

[4] On the day before the sale, Simon Murray (the great grandson of Sir Henry Blake) claimed ownership of the painting on behalf of the family.

[4] Mr. Murray, however, holds that Sotheby's never discussed the painting with his family and that his mother was unaware of the sale until she saw a report in the Telegraph.

[4] Miss Varney rejected the revised offer and Sotheby's followed their normal policy, withdrawing the painting because they could not guarantee a good title to anyone who bought the work.

The family believe it disappeared from Myrtle Grove after a series of robberies in the 1980s,[10] although Philip Mould notes that there was no crime reported.

[12] Mr. Murray conducted further research among his family's papers and claimed to have found a letter which described the circumstances under which the painting was produced.

[4] In October 2013, the London Evening Standard reported that Shirley Rountree (Simon Murray's mother and a descendant of Sir Henry Blake) was suing Sotheby's for "return" of the painting.

[14] Massachusetts native Clifford Schorer said the painting was used as security for a loan he made to Selina Varney (now Rendall) and that he was now entitled to it, the Blake family having failed to make a claim in a US court.