Although this painting was recorded in 1842 as a portrait of Shakespeare, it cannot be seriously considered to be him. The panel is very coarsely painted and repainted, particularly to the head, to enhance the hoped-for likeness to Shakespeare.

Tree-ring analysis, undertaken in 2010, revealed that that the oak panels on which the portrait was painted derived from the same tree, which was felled after 1616. This suggests the picture was painted sometime after 1621.

Inscribed: AEtat. Suae.. 34. (His age 34)