The famous painting of David of "the Coronation of the Empress Josephine", purchased by the French government some time ago, has left the Oldway Mansion at Paignton, where it has been for a generation, for transportation to France. The picture is to hang with the sister picture by the same painter, in Versailles. It was originally painted for the founder of Oldway, the late Isaac Singer, of sewing machine fame, by David in Paris in 1808 and completed in Brussels in 1882. Since then it has formed the setting of the great Hall at Oldway, Civic Centre. Picture shows: three men three men who are looking after the masterpiece are pictured at the Oldway mansion. They are Charles Mauricheau-Beaupre (top of steps the French Curator of Versailles), Mr. W.J. Hartnell (centre) a Paignton carrier agent, and Mr. S.M.Y. Carchrae a representative of the British Government who will ravel wtih the painting and hand it over to the French authorities at Versailles. 4 May 1947