"The object of art is to give life a shape."
-Shakespeare
The newly identified portrait of William Shakespeare has been unveiled at Dartmouth House, Mayfair, London.
The oil canvas is thought to have been painted in 1610 - six years before the playwright's death - when he was about 46 years old.
It remained in the same family for centuries and was inherited by art restorer Alec Cobbe.
The painting will go on display at The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23, Shakespeare's birthday.
*Note that there is no truth to the rumor that Painter Karin Wells is related to Prof. Stanley Wells, Wells Fargo, Wells Cathedral, Wells College or any known Water or Oil Wells. But she once drove by Wells, Maine.
Controversy:
Wow. Since I posted this I have gotten a heap of email on this topic.
This is the Sanders Portrait of Shakespeare.
For starters, see the comments and other link below to read about and view the Sanders "authentic" painting of Shakespeare.
Three U.S. Supreme Court Justices hear a moot court debate over the authorship of Shakespeare's plays. The mock trial was organized to explore the theory that Edward DeVere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, was the actual author of the plays, writing under the pseudonym of Shakespeare. See the video here.
Shakespeare by John Taylor hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Justice Stevens Renders an Opinion on Who Wrote Shakespeare's Plays
It Wasn't the Bard of Avon, He Says; 'Evidence Is Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.' See this article here.
6 comments:
See the below for truth in research, not rounded logic born of sheer speculation from one who has done this before (Cobbe)
http://web.mac.com/jimhs/iWeb/Willy/Welcome.html
http://timelesswill.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the additional information about yet another possible likeness of Shakespeare.
I do understand your dedication and passion (since you are a descendant of the painter).
However I can find no credible information confirming your negative comments about Cobbe.
I had a peek at you web site and your work, its beautiful! You are certainly a talented artist.
There is a ton of credible research on the Cobbe which almost certainly identifies the sitter as Sir Thomas Overbury. The Folger Shakespeare Library supports this sitter ID. A translation of the caption as studied by Daniel Fishlin, phd, is "Beware of the friendship of princes", which fits the story and murder of Overbury by persons close to King James.
I very much respect Mr Wells expertise on Shakespeare's work but there is no such person who can call himself (herself) an expert on the Bard's life. Everything Mr. Shakespeare left us about his life can be written on a page or two. The rest is pure speculation or conjecture, except for the Sanders' painting which, at least, tells us what he looked like.
This is great fun, isn't it?
Regards
Thank you for your kind words....and yes, it is great fun!
:o)
I thought you and your readers may enjoy reading the following link
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/apr/19/shakespeare-portrait-contested
Thanks, now we have yet another piece of this puzzle.
Here is a quote from the new link that ShakSan provides:
"One of the country's most eminent art historians has branded as "codswallop" claims that a portrait, which will go on display in Stratford-upon-Avon this week, is of Shakespeare.
Comments by Sir Roy Strong, a former director of the Victoria and Albert museum and the National Portrait Gallery, have stoked the furious row among Shakespeare scholars, who disagree about the true identity of the man in the controversial "Cobbe portrait".
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