Fairfax House: Mystery missing painting found and on display at Yorkshire townhouse

But now – thanks to some inspirational detective work – the art has been tracked down and bought. It is now going on show at the premises in Castlegate in York after a successful campaign to raise £14,500 to buy it.

Sarah Burnage, curator at Fairfax House, is delighted.

Research undertaken at Fairfax House by Collections Manager Rachel Wallis revealed that the portrait was in danger of being sold into a private collection, and possibly exported.

Fairfax House then launched a campaign to raise enough funds to purchase the portrait, which has been attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, and return it to permanent public display.

Sir Godfrey was born in Germany and studied on the continent before moving to England. Here he established himself as the leading portraitist of the period, founding a studio that churned out portraits of the rich and famous on an almost industrial scale.

The campaign to raise money to purchase the portrait was supported by Art Fund, the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, as well as generous donations of the public.

Ms Burnage said, “We are so grateful that we were able to save this portrait from going into private collection, and are instead able to display it - especially given its significance to the house’s history.”

A wealthy woman in her own right, Elizabeth Clifford married Charles Gregory Fairfax, later 9th Viscount of Emley, in November 1720. Sadly Elizabeth died just six months later from smallpox and Charles Gregory inherited all of Elizabeth’s money and possessions, including a townhouse in London. He used this in inheritance to stabilise the shaky Fairfax finances and later down the line purchased Fairfax House.

The museum now hopes this purchase will support its plan to reveal the stories of other women who have been forgotten by history. Collections manger Rachel Wallis said: “It is undeniable that Elizabeth’s wealth is the reason that we have Fairfax House as we know it today, and yet we barely know anything about her. We want to use this portrait to help support our plan to tell the stories of the forgotten Fairfax women - we have already started undergoing new research into Elizabeth’s life and can’t wait to share what we uncover about her.”

Fairfax House is a Georgian townhouse museum in the heart of York, open 11am-4pm every day except Fridays (Fridays are guided tours only).

It is acclaimed as one of England’s finest Georgian townhouses. It was restored by York Civic Trust in the 1980s and has been open to the public ever since. Originally the city home of Ann Fairfax, purchased for her by her father the 9th Viscount Fairfax, the house’s richly decorated interiors and magnificent stucco ceilings make it a masterpiece of Georgian design and architecture.

A beautiful collection of furniture donated by Noel Terry brings the house alive, vividly recalling a lost world of townhouse-living in the 1760s to visitors.

The portrait goes on display today, to coincide with York’s Georgian Festival. Children and under go free at Fairfax House, and admission for adults is £7.50. Find out more at www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk.