OK. What’s a discussion of Shakespeare memorials without a squabble or two; without a little cloak and dagger; without a secret in the wings; without, in short, drama?
I was wondering today how different ages and different cultures celebrated the Bard and found two particularly fascinating stories about his monuments.
The first, his memorial in the Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey, is the poster child of the Freemasons, those original holders of arcane truths and byzantine theories. The piece was installed in 1741 under the patronage of poet Alexander Pope and three of his pals. The cross-legged poet leans (why is that such a popular stance for him?) against an uncomfortable looking pillar piled with books, holding a sheet of the Tempest manuscript in his hand.
But- what’s this? The words on the paper have been rearranged and altered! The “e”’s are out and apostrophes are in! The Bard’s finger points to the word “Temples”! The first line of the quotation in the play has been resited to the end! Obviously, this is a riddle! And obviously, the answer to it is that- Francis Bacon is the true Shakespeare! (Fascinated? Read more on www.sirbacon.org/gallery/west.htm )
Meanwhile, over in Germany, there’s a bit of a flap over the Kesselstadt Death Mask. Seems that in 1847, a Dr. Ludwig Becker attended the estate-sale of good old Count Kesselstadt in Mainz. He bought a picture dated 1637 of a corpse in a wreath with candles. He somehow assumed this was Shakespeare (though others are just as certain it’s Ben Jonson). He noted at the sale that a Plaster of Paris mask was available as well, though it took him two years of searching to find it.
Here’s where it really gets twisted.
He found the mask in a rag and bone shop. It had the date 1616 (the same year Shakespeare died) in three places on the back. He measured it. Voila! Same size as the Bard’s face! Must be the same guy. Must be the death mask. Even though this forehead sloped back and S’s was known to stand straight up and take notice. Supposedly it’s a cast from the original death mask.
But a modern Mainz crime lab ran the stats. There are 17 points of similarity with the portraits of the playwright as well as some hair stuck to the mask. Maybe Becker was right and the pilgrimages can continue. In the meantime...
Cloning, anyone???
(photo from roundtable.iwarp.com)
6:35:45 PM 
|
|
