Window cleaner claims to have discovered Shakespeare's first portrait, worth over $264 million

In a jackpot discovery, a British window cleaner claimed to have found William Shakespeare's first portrait to have been made in his lifetime, which is estimated to be around $264 million.

The unique painting, which was purchased by the antique dealer, father of window cleaner Steven Wadlow, from an Oxfordshire estate in the 1960s, was checked by art experts.

While carrying out X-rays of the painting during its analysis,artexperts found that the portrait was created around 1595, when Shakespeare was 31 years old, as reported by The UK Sun.

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It is similar to the famous writer's only authenticated portrait, however, historians have not yet confirmed the painting, which was valued at a whopping sum by an art dealer.

Window cleaner claims painting 'not' validated because of his profession

Window cleaner Wadlow said that his claims regarding the painting were disregarded and the experts failed to validate the art piece because of his blue-collar profession.

Wadlow belongs to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire in Southeast England and has spent a lot of money while trying to prove the authenticity of the artwork.

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In 2012, his quest started when his father was watching a documentary on Shakespeare.

“He looks like our bloke above the telly,” his father later told him.

There is only one confirmed painting of Shakespeare, which is called the Cobbe portrait, and is present in the Hatchlands Parkcountry houseinSurrey. The painting was made in 1612.

Wadlow, who claims to have his own version of the writer's portrait, feels that the truth behind the artwork most likely will never see the light of day.

(With inputs from agencies)