Object Image

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Dramatist and poet.

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 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....

c. 1600-1610
Oil on canvas
552.0 x 438.0mm
NPG 1
Image and text © National Portrait Gallery, 2022

Where you'll find this

National Portrait Gallery
Permanent collection

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