8-2CobbePortrait

Answered by Nishad A.
For 399 years, there were only two known representations of Shakespeare, until March 9, 2009, when the third was discovered after it had been passed down through the Cobbe Family. These other two representations were the engraving by Martin Droeshout, in the First Folio and the bust of Shakespeare at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon , which was both produced after his death in 1616. The Cobbe portrait; however, was taken through a series of tests including wood dating, X-ray examination at Cambridge University and infrared reflectography to determine that it was painted in 1610 when Shakespeare was 46 years old. According to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, research shows that the “descent to the Cobbes through their cousin’s marriage to the great granddaughter of Shakespeare’s only literary patron, Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd Earl of Southampton.” Professor Stanley Wells, Chairman of the Trust states that, “The identification of this portrait marks a major development in the history of Shakespearian portraiture. The evidence that it represents Shakespeare and that was done from life, though it is circumstantial, is in my view overwhelming. I do not think anyone who sees [the Cobbe portrait] would doubt this is the original. It’s a much livelier painting, a much more alert face, a more intelligent and sympathetic face.” More evidence proving the originality of the portrait is that the Cobbe portrait is inscribed with a quotation from the Classical writer, Horace, taken from an ode addressed to a playwright. The most noticeable feature of the painting is that Shakespeare had a full head of hair compared to the other representations that show him balding. This is a breakthrough in “Shakespearean portraiture”, according to Professor Wells, due to the number of images of Shakespeare that exist today. The story of how the portrait was found and revealed to the public was very interesting and just adds to the great news. According to Time Magazine, “The picture has languished for centuries at Newbridge House, home base of the Cobbe family outside Dublin, where until recently no one suspected it might be a portrait of the Bard.” Then ; in 2006, Alec Cobbe, a member of the Cobbe family and an art restorer, noticed a painting of Shakespeare that resembled the painting in his family during a visit to the National Portrait Gallery in Britain. Cobbe went to his friend, Professor Wells, and they conducted tests to prove it was the original or not. It was released to the public on March 9th, and now will make its first public appearance on April 23, the supposed day of his birth and death and be open until September 9th. As for the location, Stratford-upon-Avon seemed appropriate at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which was the group that was in charge of proving its authenticity. Therefore, if you are in England anytime soon, I would recommend that you check it out, because Shakespeare was one of the greatest writers of all time, but we never knew what he looked like until now. **Works Cited** Mackey, Robert. "Portrait of Shakespeare Unveiled, 399 Years Late." The New York Times. 09 March 2009 Web.14 Apr 2009. <[] >. Spescha, Petra. "Unique Portraid of Shakespeare Unveiled." Reuters 09 March 2009 Web.14 Apr 2009. <[] >.

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