Shakespearean coincidences and Guelph’s expertise
University of Guelph professor Daniel Fischlin gave a lecture on Guelph’s connections to Shakespeare on Nov. 14 at the local library. The talk drew on Fischlin’s involvement in the latest release of the Shakespeare Made in Canada series: Macbeth.
Along with notable playwright and fellow U of G professor Judith Thompson who wrote a preface to this edition, Fischlin wrote a lengthy introduction which outlines some of Guelph’s historical connections to the Bard and his works.
At first glance, Guelph and Shakespeare may seem like two entirely unrelated things, but as Fischlin’s lecture explained, our fair Canadian city and the prolific English sonneteer are aligned in an almost preternatural way.
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Orlando John Stevenson was a professor at the Ontario Agricultural College (now integrated into the University of Guelph) and head of the English department from 1919 to 1939 and was, at the time, the foremost Shakespeare scholar in Canada. The University of Guelph has since had a vested interested in studying Shakespeare and his works, and this has continued with Fischlin’s launch of the Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Project, the leading Canadian database on the world-famous playwright.
There are several coincidences, such as Guelph being founded on April 23—the alleged birth and death date of William Shakespeare. The most prominent association, however, is that the portrait from which Shakespeare’s birthdate and death date are gleaned from, and the only portrait painted of him during his life, not only resides in Guelph, but is in the hands of familial descendants of his who live in the Royal City.
The Sullivan family, descendants of the Sanders, are the owners of the portrait. Their ancestors are allegedly of the same Catholic origin as Shakespeare and their movement in England lines up with the locations and events of Shakespeare himself. Almost everything about the circumstances surrounding this portrait point towards its authenticity, according to Fischlin, yet it has not been without controversy.
The National Portrait Gallery in England has a portrait—designated NPG 1 due to it being a keystone in the gallery’s collections—which was submitted by a man claiming to be the illegitimate offspring of the playwright. The portrait’s validity has been questioned and the stark credibility of the Sanders portrait may make NPG 1 irrelevant.
The National Portrait Gallery has heavily contested the authenticity of the Sanders portrait. In a counter to this, Fischlin stated, “The independent appraisers have been unanimous in supporting [what the portrait] claims to be.”
The University of Guelph has been heavily involved with the research of this portrait, doing pro-bono work for the Sullivan family.
Fischlin went on to explain, “The family intends that it be public, that it be kept in Canada, and that their legacy be respected.”
The University of Guelph intends to respect these wishes, ultimately hoping that the portrait be hung in a public Canadian institution after they have finished researching it. There is still plenty of history to be discovered and Fischlin is adamant that the University will play a large part in that.