Discovering Shakespeare book

Discovering Shakespeare book by Stephen Tunnicliffe

About the cover picture of book Discovering Shakespeare

The original oil painting is in the possession of the writer Mr Clifford Bax. It purports to be a portrait of Shakespeare by the Flemish painter Frans Hals (1584-1666). After reading Mr Bax's account of it, I asked to see the picture of Shakespeare in his flat in the Albany. Afterwards he was able to provide me with this photograph of Shakespeare. Painted in white on the back of the picture is the following inscription, in 18th century Italian:

This portrait represents the great English poet William Shakespeare and was painted by the great Flemish painter Francesco Hals. It was brought to Rome by the Earl of Nithsdale, William Maxwell, and given by him to the monastery of Saint Gregory on Monte Celio in Rome. Lord William Maxwell, because of his partisanship of the House of Stuart, was imprisoned in the Tower of London [1715] and sentenced to death by execution. Escaping, however, from the prison in the costume of a woman, he came with his wife to Rome, where he set up house, lived in peace and died [1744] ever loyal to his Stuart Prince.

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Discovering Shakespeare:
Publication price including postage and packing to UK: £8.00. (Retail: £6.95).