John Fletcher Portrait

The National Portrait Gallery in London has launched an appeal to raise £218,000 to buy this painting by an unknown artist of the Jacobean playwright John Fletcher, who collaborated with Shakespeare and with Francis Beaumont. It is the only known portrait of Fletcher painted in his lifetime and is of historic importance, especially for the National Portrait Gallery. The Art Fund charity has granted £50,000 toward the acquisition. The deadline is 20 January 2008.