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“Secret” Bonnie Prince Charlie portrait’s millionth visitor

Millionth visitor Marco Novembre views the secret portrait with his son Tommaso and museum manager Colleen Foggo
Millionth visitor Marco Novembre views the secret portrait with his son Tommaso and museum manager Colleen Foggo

More than one million people have now seen the “secret” portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the West Highland Museum.

The mirror picture – by an unknown artist of the 1745 Jacobite era – has been in pride of place at the museum in Fort William for the past 35 years.

And the institution has just recorded its millionth visitor, Marco Novembre, who viewed the portrait with his son Tommaso.

The pair were from Verona, which was considered to be very appropriate in view of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Italian connections.

Random daubs of paint in a crescent shape on a square, wooden tray, reveal a wonderful likeness of Prince Charles Edward Stuart when reflected on a polished vertical cylinder placed on top of it.

The "secret" portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie

Following the ill-fated Jacobite Rising that ended in rout at Culloden, the clan chiefs risked being accused of treason if they were caught by the Redcoats while drinking a toast to “The King Over the Water”.

So, at their covert meetings, they raised a glass to their secret portrait and, if their castle or house was raided, tray and cylinder were quickly separated, with one being placed well away from the other – as apart they are totally meaningless.

Museum manager, Colleen Foggo, said: “The secret portrait could be said to be the jewel in the West Highland Museum’s crown.

“And, having checked our records from 1979 until now, we find we have chalked up a total of just on a million visitors, all of whom have been directed to it by our volunteer staff.

“We’re sure they will have returned home to every corner of the world to tell family and friends about our remarkable secret portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie.”

She added that the portrait was discovered by chance in a London shop by the founders of the museum.