Contributions are moderated. It is known from public records that he married Anne Hathaway and had three children together; scholars have analysed their relationship through these documents, and particularly through the bequests to her in his will . The Chandos Portrait is one of six in the National Portrait Gallery show that have been identified or misidentified as representing William Shakespeare. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Hulme, Graham; Buchanan, Brian; Powell, Kenneth. The portraits were the Chandos portrait (top left), the Darmstadt Shakespeare death mask (top right), what she called the original Flower portraits … The portrait is known as the 'Chandos portrait', after a previous owner, and was the first portrait to be acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, when it was founded in 1856.  Shakespeare's Influence But who John Taylor might have been has never been definitively established. William Shakespeare 1 William Shakespeare William Shakespeare The Chandos portrait, artist and authenticity unconfirmed. The "Chandos" portrait is one of the most famous of the portraits that may depict William Shakespeare (1564–1616). Perhaps even a bit sarcastic. [1] It is named after James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos, an early owner.  Shakespeare's Birth Painted between 1600 and 1610, it may have served as the basis for the engraved portrait of Shakespeare used in the First Folio in 1623. The Flower Portrait, oil on canvas, artist unknown, Courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company The painting is from the collection of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Very little is known about Shakespeare's physical appearance and his body measurements, such as his height and weight, so what did the Bard really look like? (552 mm x 438 mm) overallGiven by Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere, 1856Primary CollectionNPG 1. DUNCAN-JONES: It came from the owner, Mr. Alec Cobbe, who saw it and then saw a portrait of Shakespeare in the Folger, which was then thought to be of Shakespeare, is actually of Thomas Overbury. The work is known today as the ‘Chandos’ portrait after a previous owner. The Chandos portrait of Shakespeare The Chandos portrait of Shakespeare Full-size image: 6.4 KB | View Download.  Shakespeare's Marriage Choose your favourite portrait from our Collection as a framed or unframed print for your home. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/heyj.13053 Per usual, the authenticity of the portraits are questioned and investigated. The ‘Chandos' portrait is attributed to the artist John Taylor and is named after a previous owner. ), mitred and pinned, applied fruitwood sight and top mouldings. If they inspire you please support our work. Search over 215,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day. The sexuality of William Shakespeare has been the subject of recurring debate. Tortoiseshell veneer on pine(?  Shakespeare's Contemporaries It is of workmanlike quality, and since the eighteenth century has vied with the Droeshout engraving as the most reproduced and adapted. The Chandos portrait is the most famous of the portraits that may depict William Shakespeare (1564–1616). directory: home: contact The Chandos Portrait is unique because it is thought to have been painted from life, meaning William Shakespeare sat for the portrait to be done on purpose. The frame was probably made in the 1760s for a portrait measuring thirty by twenty-five inches, and was subsequently cut down (hence the off-centre reversal of the top edge ribbon-and-stick) and enriched with compo shells at the corners to suit an early nineteenth-century taste. This is the only portrait of Shakespeare that has a good claim to have been painted from life, and may be by a painter called John Taylor who was an important member of the Painter-Stainers' Company. Its provenance gives it a reasonable claim to authenticity and the likely artist was a contemporary of Shakespeare. Like some other celebrated pictures, the so-called 'Chandos Portrait' of Shakespeare has been reframed several times in its history. 1 The Whiston frame still bears the pink label of the 1857 Manchester Art Treasures exhibition to which the Shakespeare was lent as no.85. The gold earring in The Chandos Portrait surprises many people. His prodigious output included poems, sonnets, history plays, tragedies and comedies. It does resemble the Droeshout engraving, though.  Most Common Questions About Shakespeare. Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. SHAKESPEARE'S CHANDOS PORTRAIT PAINTING Cooper, who completed a three-and-a-half year study of all the portraits purporting to be of Shakespeare, believes that the Chandos portrait painting, donated to the National Portrait Gallery in 1856, is the most likely representation of Shakespeare. On Davenant's death, it was acquired by the actor Thomas Betterton and, while owned by him, was copied by Kneller. Believed to have been painted from life between 1600 and 1610, it may have served as the basis for the engraved portrait of Shakespeare used in the First Folio in 1623. 4 inches wide. Poet and playwright William Shakespeare was described by his contemporary Ben Jonson as the 'soul of the age'. He spent most of his working life in London, first as an actor and then as a playwright, providing plays for the immensely popular public theatres and the court. This portrait was identified in the mid-seventeenth century as a portrait of Shakespeare made during his lifetime, though the identity remains highly probable, rather than proven. This is the only portrait of Shakespeare that has a good claim to have been painted from life, and may be by a painter called John Taylor who was an important member of the Painter-Stainers' Company. The first portrait acquired by the Gallery on its foundation in 1856; a modest portrait, with a strong claim to authenticity, of the most celebrated writer of the English language. This potrait was the first acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, in 1856. How do you know this? The Chandos Painting of William Shakespeare. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind. The article explores the connections between the portrait and the Jesuit enclave that existed at Grafton Manor, as well as the portrait's connections to Wroxton Abbey. Please could you let us know your source of information. If you tick permission to publish your name will appear above your contribution on our website. If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. The Chandos portrait of William Shakespeare, held in the National Portrait Gallery. Cousins based this mezzotint on the Chandos portrait of Shakespeare, a work with a good claim to be a lifetime representation. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. The simple costume worn by the sitter of a black doublet and falling collar, is similar to that seen in the portrait of Ben Jonson, Shakespeare’s contemporary. The work will be the centrepiece of an exhibition Writers of Influence: Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling, displaying 61 of the Gallery's most important literary portraits. Can you tell us more about this portrait? The Chandos Portrait is one of six in the National Portrait Gallery show that have been identified or misidentified as representing William Shakespeare. By chance, the National Portrait Gallery owns two of the previous frames, dating to the early 1800s and the 1860s; what we lack is the original frame, which was presumably a modest plain black moulding perhaps with a gilt sight edge. It was the very modesty of the original frame which would have made it seem inappropriate to a later owner wanting something more conspicuous. The Chandos portrait of William Shakespeare attributed to a little-known artist named John Taylor. Switchboard: +44 (0) 20 7306 0055, You must have Javascript enabled to view zooming images, We are currently closed until spring 2023, while essential building works take place, His Picture in Little: Shakespeare, Hamlet and Tacita Dean, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/heyj.13053, Making History: Printed Portraiture in Tudor and Stuart Britain, National Portrait Gallery works in Elizabeth to Victoria exhibition at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Tudor and Elizabethan portraits used in matching pairs. The engraved portrait of Shakespeare, on the title page of the first publication of his works, shows distinct similarities when compared to this painting. "It would be lovely to be categorical," she added. “The Chandos Portrait of William Shakespeare” is believed to depict the famous playwright, regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. British engraver George Vertue spoke of a person named John Taylor, whom he described as an actor and painter — and perhaps the very artist responsible for the famed “Chandos portrait” of Shakespeare. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled. Can you tell us more about this portrait? In the 1950s or 1960s the portrait was put in a shadow box, a simple glazed box, with a velvet background, a fashionable solution at the time.3 In 1983 an old mock tortoiseshell frame from store was dismantled and cut down, and the sight and back edges replaced by John Davies at a cost of £206.60. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us?  Shakespeare's Education Opening in Sheffield in April, the exhibition will travel to Southampton, Plymouth and Sunderland. It can be found at this link:  Shakespeare's Lost Years Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. Share this page: Navigation. Please see my story recently published in The Heythrop Journal entitled "All Roads Lead to Campion: George North, William Shakespeare, and the Chandos Portrait". The notebooks of the eighteenth-century antiquarian George Vertue record that the portrait was at one point owned by Shakespeare's godson William Davenant, and that it was painted by 'one Taylor, a Player and painter', who was a contemporary of Shakespeare; this is believed to be a reference to John Taylor, who was a member of the Painter–Stainers' Company. The poet, actor and playwright William Shakespeare is one of the world’s most celebrated cultural figures, and it is perhaps appropriate that this painting was the first to be presented to the newly founded National Portrait Gallery in 1856. Shakespeare's Burial Summary William Shakespeare, bust portrait, facing left. Documentary sources suggest that it was painted by a little-known artist who went by the name ‘Taylor’ (possibly John Taylor [d.1651]). This painting, now known as the Chandos Portrait, was painted between 1600 and 1610, so the timing fits. There are several portraits dated to the 17th century that have been claimed to represent Shakespeare, although in each the sitter is either unidentified or the identification with Shakespeare is debatable. The Chandos portrait of Shakespeare is named after its owners, the Dukes of Chandos. Unfortunately, most experts agree that it is unlikely that it is a portrait of Shakespeare. And then, moving sideways, Mr. Alec Cobbe’s very splendid portrait is very, very like the one at the Folger, as Mr. Cobbe himself recognized. This was the first portrait to be acquired by the Gallery and remains one of its most important, since it is the only reaonsably authentic contemporary likeness of Shakespeare. The portrait was the National Portrait Gallery's first recorded acquisition, and was given by the Earl of Ellesmere in 1856, the year of the Gallery's foundation.  Shakespeare as Actor and Playwright The "Chandos" portrait is the most famous of the portraits that may depict William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Chandos Portrait is lifelike and was thought to have been painted by a member of Shakespeare’s acting company, Richard Burbage. The Chandos Portrait is probably one of the most famous, most recognized, and most used portraits of Shakespeare. Painted between 1600 and 1610, it may have served as the basis for the engraved portrait of Shakespeare used in the First Folio in 1623. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published. The Chandos portrait was the first painting given to the gallery, in 1856. Title: Portrait of William Shakespeare, The Chandos Portrait Artist: John Taylor (1585 - 1651) Original Size: 43 x 55 cms / 16.9 x 21.7 inches Medium: Oil on Canvas Location: National Portrait Gallery, London, UK Photo Credit: Bridgeman Art Library Image ID: XCF-266086 ~~~  Shakespeare's Siblings If you have information to share please complete the form below. Taylor then left the painting to William Davenant, the man who claimed to be Shakespeare's illegitimate son. When Betterton died, it was acquired for 40 guineas by a barrister, Robert Keck, who provided information about it to Vertue. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Please note that we cannot provide valuations. This was painted some time between 1600 and 1610 and is now on display at London’s National Portrait Gallery. This is the only painted portrait of Shakespeare that has a good claim to have been painted from the life. Once owned by the 3rd Duke of Chandos, the painting given to London's National Portrait Gallery in 1856 by Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere as the gallery’s founding portrait. x 17 1/4 in. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints.  Portraits of Shakespeare Please Like other favourites! It was intended that the cost of £4.10s should be partly offset by sale of the old frame, but in the event it was kept and fitted to a portrait of William Whiston.1 A further eighteen shillings was spent in April 1864 altering and recolouring the new frame.2 The rather horrific result echoes panel frames of the late seventeenth century but the dark background gives the frame a rather earlier feel. Shakspere / engraved by R.A. Artlett, from the Chandos portrait. This portrait portrays someone who is studied and intelligent. The Chandos Portrait.  Shakespeare's Parents Posted in Authorship Studies, Shakespeare Mythology | Tagged Chandos portrait, Christopher Marlowe portrait, Droeshout engraving, English Shakespeare, Grafton portrait, shakespeare likeness, Shakespeare portrait He was born in Stratford-upon- Avon, the son of a glover, and attended the local grammar school, the King's New School. 2 Trustees Minutes 1 December 1863, 15 February 1864; Secretary's Journal (1861-65), 2 February, 26 and 30 March, 9, 19 and 23 April 1864; Duplicate of accounts vol.I, pp 18, 44. Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? Its author is unknown, but the name originates with its previous owners, the Flower family, who donated it to Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at the end of the 19 th century. We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist. The painting could have been displayed in a theatre in the mid-seventeenth century, as Davenant lived at the Fortune Theatre in London. Whoever it is by, the portrait is fascinating as a document of Shakespeare's appearance, with an earring in his left ear and a look of ruffian intelligence. National Portrait Gallery, London.  Shakespeare's Language The "Chandos" Portrait of Shakespeare Shakespeare gave the painting to them as a wedding gift. Its Maratta frame was regilded in 1858, only to be removed in 1864 at the wish of the Trustees who considered the portrait was 'seen to disadvantage in its present frame'. All contributions are moderated. Undoubtedly the most influential playwright in history, his works include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet (both c.1594–6), Hamlet (c.1600), Macbeth (1606) and The Tempest (1609–11).  Quotes About Shakespeare There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Men wore them extensively in the sixteenth century, the most fashionable sporting elaborate dangling confections of pearls and jewels. So its early history is fairly well documented. Some believe that Shakespeare's friend and fellow actor Richard Burbage painted it and gave it to Joseph Taylor, an actor with the King's Men. The portrait is known as the 'Chandos portrait', after a previous owner, and was the first portrait to be acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, when it was founded in 1856. It bears a good similarity to Shakespeare’s memorial bust and to an engraved likeness included in his published works in 1623.  Shakespeare's Children If you wish to license this image, please use our Rights and Images service. The earliest recorded frame was a Maratta type, which may have been fitted to the picture when it came to Stowe from the Chandos collection sometime in the early nineteenth century. The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. The Chandos Portrait, so-named for its one-time owner, the Duke of Chandos, has an illustrious history on its own right.Not only is it the only portrait of Shakespeare …  Shakespeare's Ancestry associated with John Tayloroil on canvas, feigned oval, circa 1600-161021 3/4 in. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and in the later 1580s joined a company of actors. It was said by George Vertue, the eighteenth-century antiquary, to have been painted 'by one Taylor a Player and painter contemporary with Shakespeare and his intimate friend' and to have been left by John Taylor to Sir William Davenant, the poet laureate, who claimed to be Shakespeare's godson. George Scharf, the Gallery's Director, records Mr Dickinson of Foord & Dickinson calling to discuss a new frame on 2 February 1864. The Chandos portrait of William Shakespeare is set to undergo a rigorous cleaning process that could reveal that the classic image of our most famous playwright could be somewhat inaccurate. There was an actor called Joseph Taylor mentioned in the First Folio; and a John Taylor is recorded in the minute books of the Company of Painter-Stainers in the 1620s; but there is only one person in Shakespeare's life who was well regarded as a painter and as an actor and he was Richard Burbage. I have no proof that such a thing happened. Look right round a selection of sculptures in our Collection, Explore who is who in our group portraits, National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HESwitchboard: +44 (0) 20 7306 0055, Find out more about the Inspiring People project, National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE The posthumous publication of Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies ('the First Folio') in 1623 was a milestone in the recognition of plays as lasting, influential works of literature, as they were commonly considered to be ephemeral texts that belonged to the theatre by which they were commissioned.  Shakespeare and the Gunpowder Plot