Shakespeare's face

[bex77]

Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust has unveiled a portrait they say was made of Shakespeare in life in 1610. That would make it the first one known to have been made while he was alive. Take a look!

In the frame
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/4962570/William-Shakespeare-portrait-is-unique.html

Close-up
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/03/09/william.shakespeare.portrait/?iref=mpstoryview

Comments

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Oooh, he was gorgeous! (if the portrait was true to life)

[scholargipsy.livejournal.com]

I don't trust the Birthplace Trust much farther than I can throw their collective pasty British butts. They routinely engage in sleight-of-truth whenever it suits their goals, which chiefly involve boosting tourism in and around Stratford-on-Avon. (They've made dubious claims about other depictions of the Bard before, and about his supposed possessions). If the scholar affirming the picture were not affiliated with the Trust, I'd be much more inclined to believe him or her.