It was among Henry VIII's grandest undertakings: a castle to outshine the castle of his rival, King Francois I of France. And so it was named "Nonsuch," as in no other palace could ever equal its magnificence. But, after taking eight years to construct, the Nonsuch Palace would end up standing for less than 150 years. In the 1680s, the grand estate fell into disrepair and was lost to history. This is why this 1572 watercolor by the Flemish painter Joris Hoefnagel, the earliest known image of the palace, is estimated to fetch around $1.9 million. According to Christie's auction...