Have you seen this?
It’s believed to be a new portrait of Jane Austen. You can read all about it here. Interesting story though it doesn’t sound like it’s been fully authenticated.
Two out of three experts believe it’s Jane!
Drawn about 1815.
She’s slouching, but probably thinking really deep and wonderful thoughts.
Which brings me to a request.
What do you think Jane is thinking?
Opine in the comments. I will send a random commenter a copy of Jane Austen’s Guide to Good Manners: Compliments, Charades ‘N Horrible Blunders
You may elect to receive paper or the Kindle version. The rules are below:
The Rules
Void where prohibited. Must be 18 or older to win. Winner chosen from among the commenters at random. Leave a comment by Midnight Pacific on Friday December 16. If the book is not available by the time the prize is awarded, Risky Carolyn will provide an Amazon card equal to the value of the paperback book. Go.
I’ve no credentials to judge whether this is really Jane, but I like this image so much better than the prettified Victorian one!
I think she is contemplating a new story. She is aware that some readers may not like her flawed but interesting characters, but resolved to write it anyway, because she has to please herself first of all. But maybe I’m being hugely presumptuous and projecting myself onto her. 🙂
I believe she is devising a way to make some chap miserable and some lady happy ( because he is miserable). Thanks!!!!
I fear this is the look I give my daughter when she interrupts me while I’m in the middle of writing a good scene! So this is what I think Jane is thinking:Just let me finish this one scene first!
This is not the Jane Austen of my imagination. I quite don’t mind not knowing what she looks like.
But this is quite compelling!
What is she thinking????
“Okay. What happens next?”
Love anything Jane Austen.
Lol…I’m not sure if it’s Jane or not but it sure looks like she’s got something serious on her mind.
I’m going to guess that she’s just seen someone she really doesn’t want to speak with come into the room and that she’s contemplating what she can say to get the to leave or thinking of what she can hurriedly write down on her paper to make it look as if she’s seriously in the middle of a letter so that the person leaves her alone.
She is saying to herself, “Here I sit, as usual writing some nonsense. I wonder if anyone will ever want to read it?”
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
I’m not sure about this pic. Someone said it had the authentic Austen nose, but basically she has a big honker. Check out the profile of her mother on this web post:
http://tinyurl.com/7nzwaqs
and compare schnozzes. My case rests.
She’s thinking: will anyone really think I’m that obscure provincial scribbler Miss Jane Whatever?
No, I don’t think it is her. It is probably a portrait of an unfavorite aunty 🙂
It’s so different from the Austen image we have, it’s taking some getting used to.
What’s she thinking about? Whether Cassandra will laugh at the bit of dialogue she just penned in which Miss Bates goes on and on and on…
What a different sort of Jane portrait. If it is her she is probably wondering how she can time travel to our time to cash in on her amazing popularity.
Looks to me like she’s thinking, “How can I get Darcy into trouble next?”
“Dear heavens, when will they hurry up and invent the bra?”
I am going to pretend it is Jane. She is trying to decide how injured her hero is going to be now that he has been thrown from his horse and if her heroine has any compassion or will leave him in the muck. 🙂
To me, it looks like she’s thinking about how to describe this experience in a letter to Cassandra–taking the painter’s likeness while he’s taking hers. And there’s something around the mouth that makes me think the depiction would include a few of her pointed, humorous barbs!
She appears to be thinking about just how she will have her heroine and hero meet.
Interesting picture. I will have to check the link to get the story on it.
I’ve read the stories about this portrait. I can’t decide if it is really Jane or not. If it is, I think the artist’s name is Mr. Collins, he keeps telling her to sit still and look like a proper lady, and she is devising all sorts of ways to get revenge on him in the book she is writing.
Doe it matter if it is Jane or not? It can be Jane if we want it to be.
I think she is probably thinking up a really good, stingingly polite retort from the heroine to the hero, that will make him see the light and realise he’s being an ass.
pride and prejuce is the best i ever knew 😉
awesome jane, you’d so many fans here in my country 😉
It seems weird to me her husband just bought it from a guy. I don’t know. But it certainly looks like her! I almost hope it is. IT’s hard to believe there are so few images of her that are recognized.
I have been reading that people say it has the ‘Austen nose’ and posting pictures of her father and brothers. I’ve been reading of how people have placed the church in the background. I’ve even heard that this has to be her because of the intelligence and wit in the features.
But no one can really say for certain.
I think that she just looks annoyed to be disturbed from her writing and is devising a witty set down to say so.