There’s a controversy brewing over a new painting found, a painting that Stanley Wells, a Shakespeare scholar, claims is the bard himself.

The Cobbe portrait as it is called shows Shakespeare in a more attractive light than we’re used to: not so plump or balding; his dress is also more regal, an indication of a higher social status.

Those who believe the painting is in fact of Shakespeare hope it reveals something about his much-debated sexuality, and to whom his sonnets were written for.

Ron Rosenbaum wonders why scholars are so obsessed with sex and Shakespeare.

The “Shakespeare portrait” brochure makes similar claims, asking whether the new, “hotter” Shakespeare tells us anything about the bard’s “sexuality” or “the person to whom the sonnets are addressed,” although it’s unclear how a portrait could do any such thing. (Are all bisexual men handsome? All heteros ugly?)

Rosenbaum makes a compelling point that the culture of celebrity has invaded into the life of Shakespeare, and that rather than look for answers concerning his sexuality, our focus should be on the works themselves. He is also bothered that the way Shakespeare looked might possibly change the way his work is interpreted.

There are also people who aren’t convinced the portrait is even of Shakespeare. Katherine Duncan-Jones, who wrote a piece for the Times Online, is one of those people. She believes that the Cobbe portrait bears a striking resemblance to Sir Thomas Overbury. In the article, the three images are lined up together. I’m not sure of all the nuances of the story, but it’s pretty compelling just by looking at the portraits that the Cobbe portrait is more likely to be of Overbury.

The Cobbe portrait; Sir Thomas Overbury; The Droeshout Shakespeare. From the Times Online.