Portraits of G. F. Handel

Georg Friedrich Handel is without question the most frequently portrayed artistic personality before the introduction of photography.
Leaving aside the controversial “Chandos Portrait” as well as the likeness by Dandridge (both to be found in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge), more than ten portraits have been handed down as authentic ones.
The earliest depiction of Handel is thought to be in the large (1.95m x 5.05 m) painting by Alessandro Piazza in the Palazzo Ruspoli on the Via del Corso in Rome. [See, among others, Kirkendale, Ursula: Handel bei Ruspoli: Neue Dokumente ... – In: Händel-Jahrbuch (Hjb.) 50(2004), p. 309-374]  This, however,  can hardly be considered a portrait, since Handel is little more than a small element within this very large painting. The following shows an excerpt from this painting with Handel in the middle of a group of people.

Alessandro Piazza: Colonella Ruspoli in the Piazza Santi Apostoli on September 9, 1707 (Detail)

A comparison of the facial features depicted in the various portraits is enlightening and is certainly relevant in questions of authenticity. However, other uncertainties remain, including those of different biographical time periods, the various formats and techniques, and not least the various schools of painting resulting in individual painting styles. One must also consider the conditions under which the portraits were produced – Handel was surely not willing to sit as a model for many hours at a time. On the other hand, certain characteristics (including the shape of the head, eyes, ears and earlobes, and the birthmark on the left cheek) can be indicators in questions of authenticity, sometimes in the context of  the provenance and other details handed down to us.