A PORTRAIT of Shakespeare which is believed to be among the most accurate representations of the great playwright has gone on public display for the first time at Longleat.

The portrait is part of a new exhibition curated by Dr Kate Harris at Longleat House to mark the 400th anniversary of the poet’s death.

The virtually unknown likeness of the poet was created in 1704, and is documented as deriving directly from the Chandos Shakespeare - the one surviving portrait thought to have been painted during the poet’s lifetime.

Longleat’s curator of historic collections said: “What makes the Longleat version of the portrait so important is not any special skill of the artist concerned (the little known Thomas Robinson), but the fact that the work preserves the original appearance of the famous likeness, the Chandos Shakespeare, now in the National Portrait Gallery collection, as it was before it was irretrievably damaged by handling, over-zealous cleaning and numerous restorations.”

Alongside the portrait, the exhibition also gives an opportunity for visitors to see the only known contemporary drawing of a Shakespeare play in performance, the world famous Titus Andronicus drawing.

The new exhibition also features Longleat’s copy of the First Folio, the first collected works of Shakespeare published in 1623, and one of only four surviving copies remaining in private hands.

‘Shakespeare 400th Anniversary – Still Searching for Shakespeare’ is on display at Longleat House until 31st October 2016.