The New York herald., 1873-11-10
SHAKESPEARE.
Discovery Of the Mask Of the Bard Of Avon and
III Effect in the Shakespearian World.
THE TRUE AND THE FALSE POET.

'sYour love and pity doth the impression nh,
which vulgar scandal stamp'd upon my brow.n
swo years. duration, plaster mask OF the Bard Of
Avon was discovered. During this long interval
the fact OF its existence despite its beng faithful
reproduction Of the poets face, has been unknown
30 the world at large. The reasons for such
course having been pursued respecting so impor-
tant likeness OF Shakespeare BY the few aware OF
its recovery will be discussed in the body OF this
article. The mere statement that such relic mas
been brought to light will cause profound sensa-
ton In the shakespearian world. The mask estab-
lished three points. First, all the portraits that
now endure-such as every one is familiar with
but remotely resemble Shakespeare. The illustra-
tions OF him in books the pictures Of him In thea
tres and the innumeraple Parian busts and en-
cravings of him that ornament our walls, without
taking into consideration the so-caIled original
paintings OF him in Europe and all the portraits
there, are all really caricatures. Second. that
Shakespeare's forehead was dishgured by o deep
and ugly wound. Third, that Shakespeare as he
was is not known in art.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE ENGLISH MASK.
In 1s4s or ~ the effects Of an old German family.
Won Kesselstadt by name. whose hereditary seat
was near Cologne, on the Rhine, were sold at
Mayence, the last OF the line being deceased. The
Won Kesselstadt private museum, disposed OF at
this auction, contained q little picture, dated
1851, and labelled, .The Death Bed Of the Great
English Poet. william Shakespeare BY way Of
anttthesis to the title, the scene exhibited Shakes
peare lying in state crowned with laurel or bays.
The owner had probably not taken into considera-
tion that In England the dead were not decorated
with such chaplets on their death-beds but simply
previous to the funeral ceremony, or he would
mot have appended hts erroneous label to the
picture. After the disposition or the little rarity
It was not heard OF again until 1s47, when 1t was
purchased In England by Mr.. Ludwig Becker.
He became much interested in 1T, and studied 1t
with considerable enthusiasm. His examination
was careful and reverent, as be undoubtedly fully
appreciated its value. He said =
This must be correct likeness OF Shakespeare
How was it paintedY from the corpse drectyY
relic. It should have a key. Now, il seek out the
place where IL was sold shall discover something
relative TO 1t OF Importance.
In accordance with this idea Becker visited May
ence, and upon inquiry, ascertained that plaster
mask Of the great Englishman mad hung side by
side with the little picture for years in the Won
Kesselstadt museum, and was labelled "Mask After
speare.n At the sale It had gone with the rest Of
the curtosities. The buyer was unknown.
II IL on record that q member Of the Won Kessel-
stads family was attached to an embassy from his
country to the Court OF James the First about the
period Of Shakespeares demise. He must have been
present at the funeral Seeing the wax face OF the
poet-which 1t will be presently demonstrated was
TO the ceremony, with the grave clothes arranged
about 1t In imitation Of the appearance OF the real
sad s n mas
be ct once made from It.
TO ipcontestsply establish the fact that wax !.
WIN be only necessary to examine the Won Kessel-
stadt mask, or the photographs from It, On the
{age q the e. nose there Is q nat marx
which had been thoughtlessly laid on the wax face
rom which the plaster mask was cast. Had the
impression Of the poets face been obtained
marx would have resulted rom the weight Of 3
when dry and is capable Of enduring much
greater strain upon its surface than would
coSa marx On the have
from the pressure Of the plaster on the skin while
the artist was forming the mould, as the work was
follow even in the case Of those parts OF the face
where there u considerable fiesh or skin. On the
ridge q the nSss there nse
making Z wax mould the wa& Il heated sufficiently
to cause It to now easily without being Of 80 in
way. Il Is preferable to plaster, as its impress
sion OF the face Is secured with more facility.
Into this wax s
shaken out and what remnants Of grease adhere
70 II are wiped on. The artist has then perfect
reproduction OF the face Of his subject every line in
itbeing visible in this mask It requires greater
very small quantity Of the plaster is at rst applied
It Is softly blown over the face till 1t assumes very
thin consistency which, after being wet is allowed
strong enough to bear the additions subsequently
Is the wax one already described was ' separated
from Its mould: Sometimes however, plaster
mould wlll stick too closely to Its cast. II has
latter would be destroyed with il: In such in
stances 1t ts termed q ''waste mould"
The Won Kesselstadt mask was fashioned from a
s'waste mould;" for, on the left cheek the dent OF
ns iron MT used ~ prearng the moId
the frst The indenture is no slight one, as the
photographs q the mask seen BY tne writer very
FOUND IN 4 rAwNBRoKER's SHOP.
his neory, that worthy and ' ndsfstgabie @ s gense
man, Mr. Becker, commenced search for the
mask y which @ had kept company with the little pic
in his quest, his ardor and tenacity were finally
found the n mask in ie IN pawnSrosars D sas shop
among nails, old iron and odds and ends OF similar
worth. How excellent q repository for the mask
OF Shakespearei
The mask was greatly mutlated. pieces being
missing rom the nose, upper lip, cheeks and iore
head. Peering into the back OF It, our friend dis
covered the date Of Shakespeare's death plainly
marked within-A. D. 1916. 1t should be rcmem-
bcred that this was then the only plaster mask in
existence There was frst wax mould, then q
wax face; afterwards plaster mould and lastly,
the plaster mask cast nom It, Becker FASTENED to
England with his prize. Placed before the in
competent judges-hterary men--it was received
with incredulity.
ssHow," asked number Of these, "could mask
Of Shakespeare have been carried away into Ger
manyf Nonsensel this affair cannot be genuine
Beckers candid affirmation that everything
pointed to Its authenticity did not produce much