paolo veronese??

Oh my God ..... if that is REALLY a Veronese (and it's quite impossible to tell for sure from the photographs) I'm appalled to hear it was cut up: quite apart from the damage to the composition, the structure of the paint on the canvas will be damaged as well, and it needs the attention of an expert conservator. On the other hand - I strongly doubt, from what I can see, that it is a Veronese. Or if it is, it's lost a lot of glazes over the years. The only way to be sure is to call in an expert - numerous companies will have a look at it for either no fee or a very small one; look up auctioneers and valuers to start with, if you're nowhere near Sotheby's; failing that, a good local gallery, where the owners actually know more about paintings than some of them seem to (excuse the note of cynicism), or try sending as good a photo as you can, preferably a bit better than the top one here, to the Antiques Roadshow at the BBC. I seriously doubt that this is a painting of any great financial value - although it has period charm, at the very least - but then: you never know until you investigate it properly: even cut up and damaged paintings by established masters have a value, sometimes an astonishingly high one. I take it that there's another part of the painting extant, on which there is a signature: it would be helpful if you could find that and post a photograph, even though, of course, signatures on their own don't mean a lot - they can sometimes indicate who DIDN'T paint a picture,. though!

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/paolo-veronese Information on Veronese here - note that he founded a workshop: it's possible your painting is one of its products. But of course, I don't really know! Veronese was a prolific artist - so it's far from being impossible that your painting is indeed one of his.

The damage is indeed serious, but if the painting has real value, it can be restored, the canvas can be re-lined - this is a job for a real expert, mind. If it has just a bit of value - say a couple of thousand quid (but don't get your hopes up!) - at least it could be stabilized and gently cleaned. If its value would make restoration hopelessly expensive and not financially worthwhile, the best bet is to do what your grandmother has done with it: just leave it alone, in a room not subject to damp or extreme variations in temperature (could be a bit difficult in the Highlands). It will continue to gently deteriorate, but then - don't we all?

Incidentally - just had as close a look as I can take onscreen: the painting of the child's head in particular, and that rather tubular arm, is very unlike Veronese - far be it from me to pour cold water, but I don't think you have a fortune hanging on your gran's wall....