Portrait alleged to be of Anne Whateley (in fact likely to be Girolamo Casio)

The Portrait titled 'Portrait alleged to be of Anne Whateley (in fact likely to be Girolamo Casio)' is a compelling example of High renaissance portraiture that blurs historical fact and artistic imagination. While Anne Whateley is traditionally believed to have been William Shakespeare's original fiancée, most scholars dismiss her as a ghost or fictional figure. This artwork challenges that skepticism, possibly portraying Girolamo Casio, a Renaissance artist, yet often interpreted as a symbol of Shakespeare's elusive past. The painting's ambiguous identity makes it a fascinating intersection of history, legend, and Surrealism-inspired speculation, echoing Fraser’s description of Whateley as “the first of the Shakespearean Dark Ladies.”