BRITISH WINDOW CLEANER CLAIMS DISCOVERY OF SHAKESPEARE’S PORTRAIT WORTH OVER $264 MILLION

Steven Wadlow with William Shakespeare’s portrait. Photo: X

Mon 26 August 2024:

In a surprising turn of events, a British window cleaner, Steven Wadlow, claims to have uncovered what could be the first portrait of William Shakespeare painted during his lifetime. This rare find is estimated to be worth around $264 million.

The painting, which was originally bought by Wadlow’s father, an antique dealer, from an Oxfordshire estate in the 1960s, has undergone extensive analysis by art experts. X-rays revealed that the portrait was likely created around 1595, when Shakespeare was 31 years old, according to The UK Sun.

A Controversial Claim

Despite its resemblance to the only authenticated portrait of Shakespeare, historians have yet to officially confirm the painting’s authenticity. Wadlow, who lives in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, believes that his blue-collar background has led experts to dismiss his claims.

Wadlow’s journey began in 2012 when his father, after watching a documentary on Shakespeare, remarked that the man in the painting above their television looked like the famous playwright. Motivated by this observation, Wadlow has since spent a considerable amount of money trying to prove the portrait’s legitimacy.

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Shakespeare’s Legacy and Unanswered Questions

Currently, the only confirmed painting of Shakespeare is the Cobbe portrait, housed in Hatchlands Park in Surrey, which was painted in 1612. Despite Wadlow’s strong belief in his discovery, he fears that the truth behind the artwork may never be recognized, leaving the potential of this historical treasure in limbo.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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