Real Murder in National Portrait Gallery Made Public

The first detailed account of a real murder in the gallery, over an apparent artistic disagreement which happened in full view of staff and visitors, has been published by the UK’s National Portrait Gallery in their Archive Catalogue. A letter written by then-director James Milner two days after the 1909 tragedy tells how staff had to wash bloodstains from the floor after a “well-dressed elderly man” shot his wife and then himself in the head. The couple, from America, were said to have “gesticulated excitedly” while looking at one of the pictures before the man reportedly drew his revolver and, “placing the muzzle close to the woman’s head, fired”, before turning the weapon on himself. Via The Independent.