Richard III Society's press release - Facial Reconstruction

Hi Everyone

Press Release from today formal unveiling of the facial reconstruction.

Jac


***************************


The Richard III Society
Promoting research into the life and times of Richard III since 1924
Patron: HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, Founder S Saxon Barton

FACE OF RICHARD III UNVEILED
528 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH
" Facial reconstruction reveals face of long dead King
" A more pleasant, younger and fuller appearance than period portraits
reveal
" A face far removed from the image of the cold-blooded villain of
Shakespeare's play
" Opportunity to look into the eyes of one of English history's most
controversial and unfairly
maligned kings


The Richard III Society today unveiled the world's only facial
reconstruction of the human remains found at the
Greyfriars in Leicester, yesterday confirmed as belonging to Richard
III. The reconstruction project, led by
Professor Caroline Wilkinson, Professor of Craniofacial Identification
at the University of Dundee, was
commissioned and funded by the Richard III Society.
To those who have seen so many portrayals of Richard III with contorted
body and facial features, this calm and
apparently thoughtful face could be a shock. After his death, many
portraits deliberately added narrowed eyes and
mean lines. We have already discovered he had no kyphosis or withered
arm - now we know he had a warm face,
young, earnest and rather serious. How many scales will drop from how
many eyes! This likeness is so real, it is a
remarkable tribute to Professor Wilkinson and her reconstruction team.
Congratulations and thanks are in order, but
these words somehow don't seem adequate to recognise such art, skill and
loving craftsmanship.
It's an interesting face, younger and fuller than we have been used
to seeing, less careworn, and with the hint of a
smile. When I first saw it, I thought there is enough of the portraits
about it for it to be King Richard but not
enough to suggest they have been copied. I think people will like it.
He's a man who lived. Indeed, when I looked
him in the eye, Good King Richard' seemed alive and about to speak.
At last, it seems, we have the true image of
Richard III - is this the face that launched a thousand myths?'
Dr. Phil Stone, Richard III Society Chairman

It was a great privilege for us all in the Dundee team to work on
this important investigation. It has been
enormously exciting to rebuild and visualise the face that could be
Richard III, and this depiction may allow us to
see the King in a different light. His facial structure was produced
using a scientific approach, based on anatomical
assessment and interpretation, and a 3D replication process known as
stereolithography. The final head was painted
and textured with glass eyes and a wig, using the portraits as
reference, to create a realistic and regal appearance.
Caroline Wilkinson, Professor of Craniofacial Identification, University
of Dundee

As an artist, to be able to make a contribution to this project has
been a real privilege. My part in the process was
to paint the 3D replica of the head and was purely interpretive rather
than scientific. Guided by Professor
Wilkinson's expertise, I drew on my experience in portrait painting,
using a combination of historical and
contemporary references to create a finished surface texture. The
reaction of the team when the model was unveiled
made all the hard work worthwhile.
Janice Aitken, Lecturer, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design,
University of Dundee

Seeing a true likeness of England's last Plantagenet and warrior king
meant, for me, finally coming face-to-face
with the man I'd invested four years searching for. The experience was
breathtaking -- one of the most
overwhelming moments of my life. I wasn't alone in finding this an
approachable, kindly face, almost inviting
conversation. Perhaps I may be forgiven for adding a personal impression
of loyalty and steadfastness, someone
seemingly capable of deep thought. An entirely new interpretation, but
to me, instantly recognisable for who he was.
You must make up your own mind, but I can only say I was transfixed.
Philippa Langley, Originator of the Looking for Richard ' project
The facial reconstruction will eventually be loaned to Leicester City
Council to be displayed in their planned visitors
centre adjacent to the Greyfriars site. The centre will be dedicated to
telling the story of King Richard III's life and
death.

Background
Richard III was an innovative king of England; initiatives such as the
Council of the North, an early example of
devolution, lasted until the mid-seventeenth century; his legal reforms
continued long after his death, with some still
embedded in our laws today. Noteworthy aspects of his reign include:
" being the first king to use English to swear his coronation oath and
to record acts of parliament.
" a commitment to fair play in the judicial system: his actions and
proclamations stressing that his laws were
to be administered impartially without delay or favour., thereby helping
to establish the legal principle of
blind justice.'
" development of an early form of Legal Aid, which provided support
for those unable to afford lawyers by
allowing people to make direct petitions to the Royal Council. Under
Henry VII this became the Court
of Requests.
" introduction of bail, thereby initiating the legal principle of
presumption of innocence'.
" active encouragement of the fledging book printing industry, a
policy reflecting the king's own personal
interest in books.