Lost Van Gogh

Sir, I read with great interest about the new book by Ken Wilkie on his quest for Van Gogh’s portrait of Dr Amadeus Cavenaile (report, June 16), which was lost at the beginning of the First World War. He mentions that he had contacted Mrs Doreen Clives, who married into the Cavenaile family, in North London, in connection with the painting.

As executor to Doreen Clives, who died earlier this year, may I assure Mr Wilkie that before selling her house we conducted a very thorough search and no such painting was there. To have hinted that it might have been would perhaps have enabled me to have the garden dug free of charge, but my conscience would not let me indulge in such subterfuge.