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Icons of Europe: This 'Chandos portrait' of supposedly Shakespeare (1564-1616) is named after James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos, an early owner.
The identity / authorship question
News release

 Brussels, 14 December 2011. –
An independent review by Icons of Europe concludes:

« Shakespeare was a prolific theatrical entrepreneur ... The plays stem from a collaborative effort involving the finest playwrights and poets as well as the royal court.  Ben Jonson ... »¹

>> News release in full

 Sources of information include the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Poets’ Corner of Westminster Abbey, and Shakespeare's First Folio of 1623.

 Icons of Europe's independent review
 
Shakespeare and
his stable of bards

King James I & VI (1566-1625), portrayed by John de Critz or Marcus Gheerhardt the Younger (from The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Virginia, USA).>> The review

Points of the review
by Cecilia Jorgensen,
Icons of Europe:

 « Scholars of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT) support Icons of Europe's findings:  “None of Shakespeare’s plays is the product of an isolated genius". »²
 « There is every reason to celebrate the theatrical entrepreneur Shakespeare and his entourage ... and set the record straight. »

Follow third-party @AvonSwan analysis of SBT's 60.Q/A tweeted since mid-January 2012.

Shakespeare's 450 years in 2014
Shakespeare's 400 years in 2016
 Countdown 1564-2014

>> 

Published 30 October 2011
International Herald Tribune:

« An open-minded debate of Shakespeare’s identity could lead to important benefits ... “The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it.” »
Letter by
Cecilia Jorgensen, Icons of Europe

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Europe's identity | Oscar Wilde
 
Icons of Europe:  Investigative historical research of cultural figures / A platform for cross-border dialog, events and inspiration
Scholars have not been able to determine with certainty whether the above portrait really depicts William Shakespeare (1564-1616), nor who painted it. - Cecilia Jorgensen, Icons of Europe has in late 2011 developed a rationale for whom it actually could portray. ¹ The tribe’s argument "who cares?!" implies the non-existence of any sole or true author.  It also disregards the value of genuine knowledge.

Icons of Europe		 ² "The idea of a single artistic mind presiding over a whole body of works is at odds with the very nature of professional theatre" - scholar replying to question 26 of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Contact us | About us

Portrait above:
King James (1566-1625)

 “Our ignorance of history causes us to slander our own times.”
"Notre ignorance de l'histoire nous fait calomnier notre temps."

Flaubert à George Sand (1871)