A PRE-Raphaelite painting – described as one of the most exciting and intriguing works in Sandwell Museums’ collection - is on display in Cradley Heath for the first time.

Painted in 1843, Boy with a Hurdy Gurdy hung in the Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery for more than a 100 years, abut has now moved to Haden Hill House Museum.

It was sold by Edward Timmins, from Wednesbury, to the town’s museum for £27-17s-6d in 1910 but the work was not authenticated as being by John Everett Milais until the 1970s.

It was then that a leading authority on Millais, Dr Malcolm Warner said in his opinion the painting was sold at Christie's in 1875 to a Mr Mendoza for 18 and a half guineas.

Collections officer David Waring said: “This sale took place during John Millais' lifetime, so it very unlikely that it could have been misattributed to him.”

He said Millais would have been about 14 years old when he painted the 'boy' which may have led to the confusion over who really painted it, as it was deemed too good for someone of that age.

But as a child prodigy, at the age of 11 Millais became the youngest student to enter the Royal Academy School.

He, along with Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Holman Hunt, formed the Pre- Raphaelite Brotherhood, which along with additional painters produced some of the most famous works of the Victorian era.

Museum services manager Jane Hanney said: “It is really inspiring to have such an intriguing painting in our collection.

“We wanted to give the work a chance for new audiences to see it so have moved it to Haden Hill House, I’m really excited at the possibility of having the work of such a famous and influential painter in our collection.

Haden Hill House is open Thursdays and Fridays from 10am until 5pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm until 6pm.