Work said to be only Shakespeare portrait

BIRMINGHAM, England, March 8 (UPI) -- An art restorer says a portrait of William Shakespeare will soon be authenticated as the only one created while the great British poet and playwright was alive.

Art restorer Alec Cobbe said Stanley Wells, a Birmingham University emeritus professor of Shakespeare studies, will authenticate a claim that the 1610 painting is the only portrait of Shakespeare created first-hand, The Sunday Times of London reported. The "Bard of Avon" died in 1616 at age 52.

Cobbe's family has been in possession of the portrait, thought to have been created six years before Shakespeare's death, since the early 18th century.

But the true identity of the man featured in the portrait remained a mystery for three centuries until Cobbe saw another portrait of Shakespeare that appeared nearly identical.

The second painting is thought to be the work of the late Flemish painter Cornelis Janssen, The Times said.

Erin Blake, curator of art at the Folger Shakespeare Library, said if Cobbe's claim is validated, it would be a great find for the art world.

"It would be wonderful if this is shown to be a picture of Shakespeare painted when he was actually living," Blake said.