Introduction

Not many would argue with the statement that William Shakespeare is the greatest and best-known English poet and dramatist. But who was the historical figure behind these timeless writings? What does the face of genius look like? For centuries, Shakespeare has continued to be elusive and shrouded in mystery. Of the many portraits and busts of Shakespeare, only two are accepted as authentic. One the copper engraving from the first Folio of Shakespeare’s work (1623) and the other, the stone memorial bust in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Both of these, however, were created after his death and the materials have deteriorated in quality. No paintings have definitively been proven to be of Shakespeare (painted during his lifetime), though a number of possible contenders exist. Of these, only the British-owned Chandos and the Canadian-owned Sander’s Portrait remain in serious contention.

The Sanders portrait was painted on two oak panels, which have been dated to 1597. The date “Anno 1603” appears in the upper right hand corner. If the painting is authenticated it will emerge as the only painting of Shakespeare to have been made during Shakespeare’s lifetime. The Sanders Portrait has been subjected to a wide range of scientific tests–perhaps more than any other Shakespeare painting–including radiocarbon analysis, infrared spectroscopy, materials tests, and X-rays, as well as expert analysis concerning style, techniques, hairstyles, and dress. All such tests have concluded that the Sanders Portrait dates from the general period (late Elizabethan, early Jacobean), and that the sitter is consistent with someone of Shakespeare’s age and social standing at that point in his career.

Two elements, however, separate the Sander’s Portrait from other contenders. The first is a linen label affixed to the back of the portrait, this label now deteriorated to such a degree that it has been rendered unreadable, was legible in 1909, when the portrait was first tested for authenticity. It reads:

Shakspere
Born April 23-1564
Died April 23-1616
Aged 52
This Likeness taken 1603
Age at that time 39 yrs

This label and the glue that affixes it to the oak panels have been scientifically proven to date before 1640, making it a valuable piece of evidence. The second element is the portrait’s provenance: the Sanders Portrait has been passed from generation to generation in one continuous genealogy. Its current owner, Lloyd Sullivan, inherited it from his mother Kathleen Hales Sanders, who in turn had inherited the portrait through her family as it passed through the generations. This family provenance is an extraordinary story, entailing immigration, family dramas, fires, and any number of challenges that would make survival of such an object difficult.