Evening star., 1932-08-28
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
uE ceInhrated CorOe1iS TanSSen

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCEII.
TINE celebrated Cornelis Jansen
portrait Of Shakespeare has
been purchased for the Folger
Shakespeare Memorial Library
This announcement. made by Mrs.
Henry Clay Folger, widow Of the donor
of the library. means that one of the
most famous paintings of its kind in
the world soon will be on permanent
exhibition in Washington.
The picture already has arrived and
is being prepared for display in the
library exhibition hall. In the negotia-
tions for the purchase Of the treasure
William Adams Slade, director Of the
library, acted for the trustees and Mrs.
Folger.
Dr.. Joseph Quincy Adams, eminent
Shakespeare scholar, now supervisor OF
research at the library, hailed the
acquisition as a notable addition to "the
finest collection of portraits OF Shake
speare in existence"
For many years before his death,
June II, 1880, Mr.. Folger had been col
lecting painted, sculptured, engraved
and printed likenesses and supposed
likenesses of the great poet, as well as
precious volumes of his plays and books
about his life and work. In his will
he provided that the quest for the best
portraits of Shakespeare might proceed.
Thus it was possible for the trustees
of the library to secure the Jansen
painting when it suddenly became avail
able through a London firm of an
tiquarians. Mr.. Slade made the ar
rangements; the picture was shipped
Immediately to Washington and is now
in the vaults of the library awaiting
final placement.
Valuable Acquisition.
Mrs. Folger, discussing her husbands
desire to add the Jansen portrait to
his already unparalleled gallery, de-
clared: Il feel that I reproduce Mr..
Folger's view when I express my con-
viction that the Jansen painting is a
most valuable and interesting acquisi-
ton. 1t is a beautiful and delicate rep
resentation of Shakespeare as he must
have appeared in life. Jansen was a
very great artist, and this is one of his
masterpieces. am happy that we have
obtained it for the library, for America
and for Washington"
Dr. Adams explained that in his judg-
ment the picture may have been paint
ed in 1910, or at least have been based
on portrait of the dramatist made in
1910. There is no claim" he said,
that Shakespeare actually sat for
Jansen or ever saw the finished work.
1y11,y InN Av,lN Tn6
as an aid in his work a drawing or
painting for which the poet did sit.
What became of this original portrait
nobody knows, but that it was in exist
ence in Janssen's time is eminently
probable.
Jansen was at work in London In
1911. We have evidence for that. And
1t is very likely that he was there dur
ing the previous year. He was an artist
of authentic genius, and his services
were much desired by persons of high
rank. Presumably one of his patrons
perhaps Pembroke or Southampton
commissioned him to paint portrait
of the poet. To assist him, the original
representation Of Shakespeare, now lost,
was submitted. 1t is perfectly plain
that Jansen had something to guide
him. My own belief Is that he had a
drawing or painting OF Shakespeare
which had the approval of those who
had known and loved the man, then in
retirement at Stratford. 1t is conceiv-
able that this lost portrait was the one
used by Martin Droeshout also in his
design of the frontispiece Of the first
folio of Shakespeares plays, printed in
1923. In any case, we have reason to
believe that we have in the Jansen
portrait a fine, idealized representation
of the man Shakespeare, made at a