Found Shakespeare Portrait Gives Insight Into Artists' Life

A portrait of William Shakespeare has been found in an Irish home. The art piece has been kept anonymously and now that it has been found it is believed to be the only painting for Shakespeare that was created during his lifetime. The portrait has been dubbed The Cobbe portrait, named after the family that owns the work.

The image shows Shakespeare with a full head of dark hair, red cheeks, pale skin, and a beard. He is wearing expensive clothing, including a ruffled collar.

According to CNN.com the portrait depicts the writer as someone with high social status, going against the view that Shakespeare was a poor and struggling artist.

CNN sites Professor Stanley Wells, who states that Shakespeare would have been 46 years old in the portrait.