Art: Adoration of the £

When the late Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, second Duke of Westminster and one of the world's richest landlords, died six years ago, he left holdings estimated as high as $168 million (e.g., 200,000 acres of farm land; seven residences; Annacis Island near Vancouver; 285 acres of choice London real estate, including the U.S. embassy site on Grosvenor Square). The duke's byword: "The Grosvenors never sell land." In 1921 he had unloaded Gainsborough's Blue Boy and Reynolds' Mrs. Siddons as the Tragic Muse for $774,000 to pay off back taxes. Last week his heirs,...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!