[MR] Fwd: [K&S] Bard Portrait Is A Unique Find, Experts Say - washingtonpost.com
David Chessler
chessler at usa.net
Mon Mar 9 23:05:15 PDT 2009
Subject: [K&S] Bard Portrait Is A Unique Find, Experts Say -
washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/09/AR2009030901121.html?hpid=artslot
Bard Portrait Is A Unique Find, Experts Say
By Mary Jordan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, March 10, 2009; A07
LONDON, March 9 -- A 400-year-old painting that had been hanging in a
stately home in Ireland appears to be the only known portrait of
William Shakespeare painted during the playwright's lifetime, experts
said at its unveiling Monday.
Stanley Wells, one of the world's most distinguished Shakespearean
scholars, said a series of scientific tests, including X-rays and
infrared reflectography, have convinced him that the painting dates
to 1610, when Shakespeare was 46. Wells said that he believes the
portrait is a genuine, unique likeness of the bard. "Though it is
circumstantial, [the evidence] is, in my view, overwhelming," he said.
Finding the portrait, which depicts a wealthy man with a lace collar,
finely trimmed beard and receding hairline, is a "major development,"
said Wells, chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. When he
looks at it, he said, he sees a "portrait of a gentleman."
Many facts of the bard's life have remained elusive through the
years, including his appearance. Some insist all the discussion over
which painting of Shakespeare is most authentic -- several famous
ones were created after his death -- is much ado about nothing. But
because Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers ever,
there has been an ongoing scholarly quest to know what the man who
wrote "Romeo and Juliet" really looked like.
The painting unveiled Monday had been displayed in Newbridge House,
an 18th-century manor outside Dublin that has belonged to the wealthy
Cobbe family. Three years ago, Alec Cobbe went to see an exhibit at
London's National Portrait Gallery called "Searching for Shakespeare."
There he saw a portrait of Shakespeare on loan from the Folger
Shakespeare Library in Washington that he thought looked like the one
in his family's home. He asked experts to help authenticate it.
"I don't think anyone who sees [the Cobbe painting] would doubt this
is the original" of the one at the Folger, Wells said. "It's a much
livelier painting, a much more alert face, a more intelligent and
sympathetic face."
Erin Blake, curator of art and special collections at the Folger,
said in a telephone interview that she is most excited about the
"serendipity" of the Folger lending a painting to a London gallery
and then someone seeing it there and connecting it to one of his own.
"It is highly probable that the one unveiled today is the original of
the one at the Folger," she said.
But, Blake said, it is still impossible to know "for certain" that
Shakespeare himself sat for the painting. After all, she said, it was
four centuries ago. Other paintings exist that were done just after he died.
The painting is scheduled to be exhibited at the Shakespeare
Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon beginning April 23,
Shakespeare's birthday.
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/09/PH2009030901123.jpg
Emacs!
A detail of the newly discovered portrait of William Shakespeare,
presented by the Shakespeare Birthplace trust, is seen in central
London, Monday March 9, 2009. The portrait, believed to be almost the
only authentic image of the writer made from life, has belonged to
one family for centuries but was not recognized as a portrait of
Shakespeare until recently. There are very few likenesses of
Shakespeare, who died in 1616. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
(Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/09/PH2009030901128.jpg
Emacs!
A newly discovered portrait of William Shakespeare, presented by the
Shakespeare Birthplace trust, is seen in central London, Monday March
9, 2009. The portrait, believed to be almost the only authentic image
of the writer made from life, has belonged to one family for
centuries but was not recognized as a portrait of Shakespeare until
recently. There are very few likenesses of Shakespeare, who died in
1616. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/09/PH2009030901133.jpg
Emacs!
Professor Stanley Wells, left, chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace
trust and one of the world's leading experts on Shakespeare studies
according to the trust, poses next to a newly discovered portrait of
William Shakespeare, in central London, Monday March 9, 2009. The
portrait, believed to be almost the only authentic image of the
writer made from life, has belonged to one family for centuries but
was not recognized as a portrait of Shakespeare until recently. There
are very few likenesses of Shakespeare, who died in 1616.(AP
Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/09/PH2009030901138.jpg
Emacs!
Professor Stanley Wells, chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace trust
and one of the world's leading experts on Shakespeare studies
according to the trust, poses next to a newly discovered portrait of
William Shakespeare, in central London, Monday March 9, 2009. The
portrait, believed to be almost the only authentic image of the
writer made from life, has belonged to one family for centuries but
was not recognized as a portrait of Shakespeare until recently. There
are very few likenesses of Shakespeare, who died in 1616.(AP
Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/09/PH2009030901143.jpg
Emacs!
A press photographer points to a newly discovered portrait of William
Shakespeare, presented by the Shakespeare Birthplace trust in central
London, Monday March 9, 2009. The portrait, believed to be almost the
only authentic image of the writer made from life, has belonged to
one family for centuries but was not recognized as a portrait of
Shakespeare until recently. There are very few likenesses of
Shakespeare, who died in 1616. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
(Lefteris Pitarakis - AP)
http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/03/09/PH2009030902891.jpg
Emacs!
A painting of Shakespeare that appears to be the only known image of
the playwright made during his lifetime was unveiled yesterday in
London. The portrait is set to be exhibited in Stratford-upon-Avon
beginning April 23, Shakespeare's birthday. (By Oli Scarff -- Getty Images)
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