Is This Jane Austen?

[poliphilo]

This is the Rice portrait of the teenage Jane Austen which is being sold at Christie's today. 

Is it authentic ? 

Hmmmmmm. 

It's supported by oral tradition but...

...Some people think the frock is all wrong for the 1780s.

Short of going back in a Tardis we're never going to know.

But it's pretty, isn't it?

Comments

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

It is pretty...

npr mentioned this on their broadcast this morning.

Why do we have to know what she looked like, when her books speak volumes about her?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Well quite. It isn't important.

All the same I think we're all a bit inquisitive. I know I am.

[sina-says.livejournal.com]

i listened to that same npr broadcast this morning on my way to work.