that I can say about THIS painting?

Well, firstly, it's quite big.

Which is excellent.

Hm-mm.

Because if it was really small - you know, microscopic -

then hardly anybody would be able to see it,

which would be a tremendous shame.

Um, secondly...

and I'm getting quite near the end now

of this analysis of this painting.

Secondly...

Why was it worth this man here

spending fifty million of your American dollars

on this portrait?

The answer is...

Well, this picture is worth such a lot of money

because...

it's a picture...

of Whistler's MOTHER.

And, as I've learnt by staying with my best friend,

David Langley, and his family,

families are very important.

And even though Mr Whistler

was perfectly aware

that his mother was a hideous old bat

who looked like she had a cactus up her backside...

he stuck with her,

and even took the time to paint this amazing picture of her.

It's not just a painting.

It's a picture of a mad old cow

who he thought the world of.

And that's marvellous.

That's what I think.