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: taking the services of 10 men, this giant painting is rolled around in a big cylinder of word - part of the packing case - in the old way mansion ready for the transportation to France fire the Dover train ferry. 4 May 1947