To one and all: Like all Ravens fans (and all football fans) I was shocked and saddened at the untimely and tragic death of the great quarterback Steve McNair. As I looked at the photos of McNair in the news, I noticed something curious. He bore a striking resemblance to my portrait painting of Shaka Zulu, which hangs in the Alberta Cason Room at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore. Unlike other purported “portraits” of Shaka, I based my portrait on the only drawing of Shaka made in his lifetime, at the height of his power in 1824. So it is actually the best color likeness of Shaka Zulu in existence. Both McNair and Shaka were murdered, McNair at the age of 36 and Shaka at about the age of 40 (his exact birthdate is unknown). Here are a couple of views of my portrait of Shaka Zulu, which can be seen at the Museum at 1601 E. North Avenue in Baltimore, and on my website at www.newbreen.com/portraitart.html . Sincerely, Jerry Breen
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[JR: Jerry is surely the most talentedartist that I know.]
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