It was painted by someone who knew how to prime a canvas, so he'd had some training, but it is quite workaday and not well lighted. The main thing is that if it is Shakespeare, it is the only portrait known that might have been done from life, so this would be what William Shakespeare really looked like-if it is William Shakespeare.
The painting in question is believed to have been created by an artist with some formal training, evident from the proper priming technique used on the canvas. However, the work is considered quite ordinary, lacking in dynamic lighting effects. Its significance lies in the possibility that it may be the only portrait of Shakespeare created from life, providing a glimpse of what the playwright actually looked like, assuming the identification is correct.
Bill Bryson, in his book "Shakespeare: The World as Stage," emphasizes the importance of this portrait amid ongoing debates about Shakespeare's appearance. If validated as a true likeness of Shakespeare, it would hold immense value, offering a rare connection to the iconic playwright's physical representation, something that is largely unknown in historical records.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
