The sale of a Victorian painting, which had hung unnoticed in a south Wales school for more than 40 years, has helped fund three new classrooms.

The Daughters of Eve by George Dunlop Leslie was sold for �170,000 after teachers at Llantarnam Comprehensive School near Cwmbran, had the picture valued by auctioneers Sotheby's.

We knew that the painting was a good example of the artist's work but we didn't realise how valuable it was

David Kitchen, headteacher

The money was used to help with the �245,000 cost of building two new science laboratories and an English classroom at the 1,300 pupil school.

The school's headteacher, David Kitchen, said the eight-foot-tall work had been purchased for the school by architect Colin Jones for �250 in the early 1950s.

"We knew that the painting was a good example of the artist's work but we didn't realise how valuable it was," said Mr Kitchen.

"When the painting was bought for the school, it was quite an unfashionable piece and Mr Jones who bought it said 'most people will not appreciate the picture but it pleased me'."

"The children used to appreciate it when it was hanging on the wall but they appreciate it more now that they have such nice classrooms to work in," he said.

'Risk'

Before being sold to collector Jerry Davies, the painting had been hung above the entrance block since the school opened.

"We had the painting valued but originally decided we weren't going to sell it," said Mr Kitchen.

"But as the artist's work became more popular, Sotheby's kept coming back to us and we thought it was a bit of risk to have such a valuable painting in the school and decided to sell it.

"We used the money to help pay for the new science block and it has already made such a difference to the school.

Notable painting

"The children like having such new labs and the 10 science teachers now all have their own rooms to teach in without having to share.

"It was a wonderful gift from the architect and has really helped the school," he added.

Sotheby's have said that the Daughters of Eve painting was considered to be one of his finest works.

George Dunlop Leslie (1835-1921) produced notable paintings including Two Women With Sunflowers, The Deserted Mill and - rather appropriately - Kept in School.