From the Stowe 1848 Sale Catalogue. At the time of the sale, the authenticity of the 'Chandos Portrait of Shakespeare' was disputed. It has since has been attributed to John Taylor and dated c. 1610. It was sold to the Earl of Ellesmere for £372 15s 0d (c. £25,000). It is now in the National Portrait Gallery, London. At Stowe it was houses in the "Shakspear" closet in the Duchess's Drawing Room, formerly the State Bedroom.

Catalogue Entry

The Chandos Portrait

The Chandos Portrait of Shakspeare [sic] being the next lot offered, the greatest possible anxiety and interest was here exhibited by the company present. The picture was thus described in the catalogue:

382. The celebrated Chandos Portrait of Shakspeare. This renowned portrait is presumed to be the work of Burbage, the first actor of Richard III, who is known to have handled the pencil. It then became the property of Joseph Taylor, the poet’s Hamlet, who, dying about the year 1653, left to by will to Sir William D’Avenant. At the death of Sir William, in 1653, it was bought by Betterton, the actor, and when he died, Mr Robert Keck, of the Inner Temple, gave Mrs Barry, the actress, forty guineas for it. From Mr Keck it passed to Mr Nicholl, of Minchendon House, Southgate, whose only daughter and heiress, Margaret, married James Marquis of Carnarvan, afterwards Duke of Chandos, from whom it descended in right of his wife, Anna Eliza, the late duchess, to the present Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. Earl of Ellesmere. £372 15s 0d.

When the picture had been brought forward, and placed on the easel, Mr Manson addressed his audience:—He said he believed no doubt whatever existed among all lovers of Shakspeare as to the portrait now before them in being a genuine production, and the exact verisimilitude of the great bard. In addition to the pedigree which the catalogue contained, he might inform them that Sir William D’Avenant—a celebrated admirer of the poet—had thought so highly of the portrait as to employ Kneller to make a copy. He could not pretend to put a value upon so important a picture, but he felt satisfied any offers he might receive would be in character with the high worth of the interesting relic he had the honour to submit to them.

Mr Manson having asked for bidding—

Mr Ryman (of Oxford) began with £50

Mr Manson (addressing Mr Ryman) said good humouredly: That is not as it ought to be Mr Ryman; but I will take your bidding nevertheless.

From £50 the price gradually ran up to £200, the chief bidders being J. Nicoll, Esq. of Neasdon House, stated to be a descendent of the Nicholls of Minchendon House; Mr Ryman, of Oxford, Mr Farrer, of Wardour Street; and Mr Rodd, of Little Newport Street. Mr Farrer here parted company. Mr Nicoll went up to nearly 300 guineas, and from that point, Mr Ryman and Mr Rodd had the bidding to themselves. The advances were not made rapidly; indeed, Mr Manson appeared to use his persuasive powers in order to induce Mr Ryman–-generally a very bold purchaser—to go on. On, however, he did go, up to 330 guineas, when Mr Rodd, making another advance of five guineas, Mr Ryman retired, and left Mr Rodd, the possessor of the portrait for 355 guineas. Immediately after the hammer fell, it was ascertained that Mr Rodd has been instructed by Mr John Payne Collier, and that the portrait was purchased for the Earl of Ellesmere.