The New York herald., 1874-09-28
THE SHAKESPEARIAN PORTRAITS.
Opinions Of Scholars Upon the
Celebrated Death Mask.
An Interview with Professor
John S. Hart.
PRINCETON, Sept. as, ls74.

PRINCETON, Sept. as, 1874.
Independently OF the debate concerning the au-
thentcity OF Shakespeare's PLAYS which OF late has
been carried on with so much interest and vigor
In your columns, another question OF similar i'm
port has arisen and as the sequel will snow, fs at
this hour engaging the warm and earnest atten-
tiOn OF ShakespeaIian students all over the world.
1t Is whether we have left US any correct pOr-
trait or image OF the great dramatst, and If So.
which one OF these purpOrung be so Is in reality
genuine. Is 1t the Keese!stadt, the Chandos
or the Droeshout picture Or. II his fea-
lures have been better represented In q bust,
which bust is strictly accurate. the stratford
or the Terra Gotta OF the Garrick Club
1t has been announced that the eminent and
celebrated artist William Page, of New York city,
is at present engaged upon new portrait Of
Shakespeare, the features OF which have been
taken from death mask recently unearthed in
Germany. This portrait will differ entirely In the
form OF expression and general conformation OF
head and face from portraits OF this dramatist
hitherto executed, ana the question naturally
arises, will Mr.. Pages work be real or VIII 1t be
idealS
The history OF this remarkable death mask has
been given to the world recently by Professor
John S Hart OF Princeton College, In whose room
am now writing, and upon whom will be de-
pendent for almost everything that shall
say. Since the appearance OF the Pro-
fessors interesting article he has received
numerous letters from Shakesperian students
all over the world, in which they freely express
their opinions concerning the genuineness of the
mask. AS the sentiments OF so many learned and
cultured men are Of nature calculated to interest
all, whether Shakesp pearian students or not, i
give below an interview with DR.. Hart, in which
Will be found selections from his large private cor
respondenCe.
First, however, few words concerning the
death mask itself, which Is now exciting so much
attention and which seems to have made such an
impression on Mr. Page. 1t was discovered by one
Ludwig Becker in Mayence in Is49, among dirt
and rubbish OF every conceivable description. In
1850 1t was exhibited in London, andtt was subse-
quentS carried to Darmstadt, where 1t Is now to
be seen. 1t is very much battered and worn.
judging from Photographic views OF 1t now before
me, and on &s back bears the inscription
I 40 DIN 1915,
the very year In which Shakespeare died. At
Mayence, where the mask was found, there is
portrait, which has been in the possession Of the
Keeselstadt family for more than hundred years,
which purports to be q picture OF Shakespeare,
and nch was evidently painted from the mask
in question. But how came this death mask in
Germany II 1t Is really cast Of the features OF
ShakespeareS On this question rests its genuine
ness. Admitting the fact that the Keeselstadt
picture was depicted rom the features OF the mask,
selstadt family was In England during Shakes
peare's lifetime or at the time OF his death.
dramatist's demise plaster cast was taken
OF his features, and according to the
aas o1 TO to
bust had been fashioned the mask was cast aside
among numerous others. and tnat German ire
qnenttng :he shop and being struck with its
atcnless features, learned It's origin, and carried
1t on to Germany. Doubtful as this story may be-
we Know II is a cast taken alter deatn because,
imbedded in the plaster nairs can be seen with The
naked eye Microscopic examination also proves
in favor Of the genuineness OF the are that It
was cast 10 1916 and that 1t bears the features Of
''At the very first glance" says Herman Grimm
IN speaking OF the mask. ~ thought to myself
that that l mad e,, never yer seen nopler countenance.
wonderfully shaped brow l felt that this must
have been q man IN whose brain dwelt noble
thoughts. inquired. ! was told TO look at the
reverse Of the mask. There, on the edge, cut In
figures Of the seventeenth century, stood, A. u.
1915. could think OF no one else VINO died in tins
year than one VINO was born In the year tuat MI
chsel Angelo dled-sAakespeare,"
Such, theh, Is briel and COMPREHENSIVE history
Of the death mask, carefully compiled ior me by
Professor John s. Hart, who went all the way 10
Germany to study 1t, and who has already given
1t IN detail in one OF our popular magazines Must
totally changedf Must the bust of Str afford be In
future regarded as false, anu be suppanted by an
other fashioned from this plaster casts Let
ShakeSpearlan students answer, for they are best
calculated so to do. can only express my sin.
cere gratitude to the Professor, whose hospitality
spondence In my HANDS; ior it is owing to this
Kindness that am thus enabled to give for the
first time to the reading public the private opin.
ions OF almost every great ShakespearlAn student
of the world concerning this mysterious mask,
For the sake OF rendering the article more read
able give below the questions put to DIR. Hart
this morning along with his answers
death mask article in scrbner. received ed irom hS%a
expression OF opinion in regard to the merits of
the question: 4. Yes, many. Among American
snakespearlans the first TO respond was Richard
Grant White He says:-'I have read your very
interesting article on the Shakespeare Mask You
mention one very important fact, which, accord
ward-the date "a. d. 1919 on the mask. That
is very impressive. The head Is grand, particu-
larly In the photograph which accompsnies your
or that l feel very sure How noble 1t isl how
touchingy sadp' Mr.. White, like most tnat have
graph that brought from Germany over others
that he mad seen.
MIR. Rurness, Of Philadelphia, the editor of the
Is capital, and told, too, with great adr0itness.
There s no dogmatic assertion, which 50 sure to
raise barrier rG Of sntlpatny but tone Of quiet
Although you make no explicit profession OF faith,
It's very clear what your Delief anent the DEATH
mask .a IN. B.-Mr. Furness Is mistaken here. 1 |
am not professed believer, but do not disbe-
lieve, as he and most Shakespearans do. The
evidence seems to me suflcient TO create strong |
In favor OF the claimant. That is ALL
He goss ON to say :-"ShaKespeare Ia to me such |
mirace that cannot clothe him in nesh and blood.
cannot imagine him a. . man. II do picture
him tits as the Stratford bust. To that aIn wed.
ded a,d am too old to change. l am not sure
that u is not blessing that we know 30 little OF
his lid. IKE to keep him as myth" In Sec
ond letter he says, "Your photograph OF the death
masks much finer view OF 1t than In either or
the two photographs In my possession"
Joseph Crosby, lawyer OF Zanes vile, Ohio, who
has made Shakespeare one OF his specalties. wrote
me etter entirely too long and too com plimen-
tary 70 be quoted, but expressing In strong terms
tns extraordinary impression that the Death
mask had produced on him, and the great superb
Drity Or the photograph over Others that he had
seen on the same subject.
Mr.. ]. Parker Norris, or Philadelphia, an ac-
i've member OF the Shakespeare Society OF that
city, VINO has given more attention probably than
any otter American to the special study OF the
portraits, and who Is preparing for
publication an elaborate monograph on the SUBJ
ect ayS:-''I have been gradually COn in cod thai