Eloise portrait vanished from Plaza Hotel, found in dumpster, sells for $100,000

The original Eloise portrait painted by Hilary Knight in 1956 for Kay Thompson has a unique and intriguing history. As a birthday gift, Knight created the tempera-on-board artwork and gifted it to Thompson, who later loaned it to the Plaza Hotel. The painting hung in the hotel's lobby, making Eloise an inseparable part of the hotel's image, attracting visitors who could experience a piece of the fictional character's world.

On the night of the Junior League Ball in November 1960, the painting mysteriously vanished from the Plaza. Knight later recounted Thompson's explanation, humorously attributing the theft to "drunken debutantes." The original Eloise portrait remained missing for over half a century, drawing national attention and making headlines across newspapers, including the evening news with Walter Cronkite.

In 2017, the painting was discovered in a dumpster, stripped of its frame, and returned to Knight. It had been stored rolled up in his closet for the past 50 years. Today, the painting is displayed in a New York exhibition, having finally resurfaced after decades of neglect. Bonhams auctioned the portrait in 2018, estimating its value between $100,000 and $150,000. The painting eventually sold for $100,000 at auction, showcasing the enduring cultural and commercial value of Eloise and Knight’s masterpiece.