Portrait of William Mew?, dated 1621

By courtesy of The Master and Fellows of Emmanuel College, Cambridge

The portrait was recently acquired by Emmanuel, at the time the identity of the sitter was unknown, but the College Coat of Arms appear in the upper right corner. A combination of conservation treatment and technical examination uncovered some surprising clues to the identity of the Scholar.

During cleaning it became apparent that the lower corners covered a more decorative paint scheme. Examination with infrared photography revealed cartouches in the lower corners containing written verse. It is unclear why these were subsequently painted out, the upper paint layers appear contemporary with the portrait and the cartouches would flatten the pictorial device of the fictive oval. Further research by academics from Cambridge University have suggested that the verses contain a rebus indicating the sitter is William Mew. Further support of this identity are the curious letters in the lower left corner which possibly spell MEW. William Mew was awarded a B.A from Emmanuel in 1622.

The portrait was compromised by a yellowed and degraded varnish which had started to become opaque over time. Old damages were repaired and retouching sought to integrate areas of loss and damage while not disguising the age of the painting.