LikenessesandPortraits1

===**WHAT DOES SHAKESPEARE LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE THE ONLY EXISTING LIKENESSES OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE? ARE THEY AUTHENTIC? WHAT IS THE COBBE PORTRAIT AND WHY IS IT SO SIGNIFICANT? WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE COBBE PORTRAIT FROM ALL OTHER EXISTING LIKENESSES? WHAT IMPACT DOES ITS DISCOVERY HAVE ON OUR UNDERSTANDING OF SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND LOOKS? IS IT AUTHENTIC?

ANSWERED BY LAUREN GOGAN **

 Both the First Folio image and the plaster cast featured in Stratford-Upon-Avon provide a benchmark image of the bard–­­ longer brown hair, deep-set eyes, receding hairline, and facial hair, although neither is actually “authentic.” In accordance to Searching for Shakespeare, “it is highly probable that Shakespeare had a portrait painted during his lifetime.” Some of the possibilities include the Chandos Portrait, Graffton Portrait, Sander’s Portrait, Janssen Portrait, or Soest Portrait. It wasn’t until very recently that the Cobbe Portrait was discovered. The Cobbe is possibly the only authentic portrait of Shakespeare; it might be the only painting actually done during his lifetime. “The picture has languished for centuries at Newbridge house, home base of the Cobbe family, where until recently no one suspected it might be a portrait of the Bard,” according to Time Magazine. Below is the comparison between the Fist Folio and the Cobbe. The similarities are obvious and we are closer than ever to unlocking the secrets of Shakespeare’s life.

We learn so much from analysis the of Cobbe Portrait. Up until approximately 70 years ago, it was thought that the Folger Portrait was actually authentic. The Cobbe and the Folger show a distinct likeness and it is now thought that the Folger was a later, non-authentic, copy of the Cobbe. In fact, there have been three other disclosed copies of the portrait give us the insight to believe, “that this is someone who was famous enough that there was a demand for copies,” quotes Shakespeare expert Stanley Wells on TIME.com. The apex of the Cobbe portrait reads //Principum amicitias!// which is claimed to have been taken from the poetry book “Horace's Odes.” In direct translation it means “Friendships of rulers,” but the entire line advocates to, “Beware of the alliances of princes.” Scholars are still searching to find out what this has in to do with Shakespeare’s own life. The unvaried looks between the Cobbe to the First Folio and plaster cast are consistent. Similar to a puzzle, the little pieces of Shakespeare’s known life must be assembled; the Cobbe portrait is one important jigsaw piece in the pile of many.

 Cooper, Tarnya. Searching for Shakespeare. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006. Print.

The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare (Oxford Companion). New Ed ed. London: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print.

Lacayo, Richard. "Shakespeare Scholar Identifies True Portrait of the Bard - TIME." TIME.com. N.p., 9 Mar. 2009. Web. 3 Apr. 2010. < [] >

"Cobbe Portrait 'Not A Genuine Likeness' Of William Shakespeare Made From Life." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology. N.p., 22 Apr. 2009. Web. 3 Apr. 2010. < http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090421142316.html>

Cummings, Michael J.. "What Did Shakespeare Look Like?." Free Study Guides for Shakespeare and Other Authors. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2010. < http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides2/Appearance.html>

"William Shakespeare."National Portrait Gallery - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. .
From left to right: First Folio compared to Cobbe Portrait, Janssen Portrait, Plaster Cast from Stratford-Upon-Avon

media type="youtube" key="cJnrOeVWZrk" height="385" width="480" The video above features headline news concerning the Cobbe Portrait.