Lady Randolph

I was surprised to find John Singer Sargent's portrait of Lady Randolph Churchill - Sir Winston's mum - in a New Jersey auction house: Nye and Company (CLICK). But then she was American (shades of Downton Abbey). Born Jeanette "Jennie" Jerome in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn in 1854, she was regarded as one of the great beauties of the age. She comes up for grabs from 21 January to 4 February (online auction on iGavel) with an estimated value of $150,000-$250,000 (CLICK).