P. B. Shelley (1792-1822)

In comparing the style of painting of the above Shelley-Portrait there is a very similar piece of work by Thomas Lawrence, obviously done a little later. It is a portrait of Frederick William Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry.

Lawrence never signed his pictures, so one has to compare, e.g. Marquess of Londonderry (s.o.) or an early sketch (1791) and the “boy in red” (1825).

In missing written documents of  providence (though often mentioned it is  very problematic in itself) the only method of identification and attribution to a certain person are the methods of careful comparison, which are a honoured scientific way of analysis.

Being of aristocratic decency, P.B.S. ́s father was a member of the english gentry and a member of parliament. The young man is wearing the clothes of the social class he is coming from. Not many young male persons of this decency appear to have the same outfit as this person at this time.

The facial impression oft the young man appears to be of high intelligence, bright eyes, individualistic and self-conscious. His sensous lips seem to tell about delicate feelings. All in all we obviously see a young man of extreme sensibility without which a poet cannot exist. This facial expresson is shared in all pictures.

All the items of the person shown in the portraits aren ́t just similarities, but document an identity. All relevant characteristics and items of comparison demonstrate the same person who evidently is Percy Busshe Shelley.