Portrait of Robert Burns contains secret Masonic symbols that have been hidden for 230 years, says expert

  • The claim has been made by Jerry Brannigan, a writer and expert on Burns
  • He looked at paintings by Alexander Nasmyth, a contemporary of Burns
  • Tiny symbols have been painted in minute detail invisible to the naked eye
  • Existence of signs was uncovered when a 'lost' portrait of Burns was cleaned
  • Burns was a high-ranking member of the Freemasons 

Several Masonic signs have been found 'hidden' in paintings of Scotland's bard Robert Burns.

Tiny letters and symbols have been painted in minute detail in a paintings by Alexander Nasmyth, a contemporary of Burns.

They include a comet, a hooded figures and the letters 'm a r a' on the side of his head. 

After studying photographs of different Masonic signs, Burns expert and writer Jerry Brannigan told Judith Duffy at The Sunday Herald that he believes he has discovered a representation of a comet over Burns's shoulder. 

A comet is claimed to have been found over Burns's shoulder, a cluster of numbers on his forehead and the letters 'm a r a' on the side of his head. The numbers  could have indicated his status as a Royal Arch Mason. The comet could be a symbol of the Masonic Blazing Star

A comet is claimed to have been found over Burns's shoulder, a cluster of numbers on his forehead and the letters 'm a r a' on the side of his head. The numbers could have indicated his status as a Royal Arch Mason. The comet could be a symbol of the Masonic Blazing Star

WHO WAS ROBERT BURNS? 

Robert Burns was born 25 January 1759 and died 21 July 1796.

He was widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland.

He was  a high-ranking member of the Freemasons.

Much of his popularity stems from the fact he was a farmer's son who could speak to the common man.

But he also led a varied social life which exposed him to different sections of society.

In his poems, he often used small subjects to express big ideas.

For instance, in 'To a Mouse', he draws a comparison between the lives of mice and men.

Burns is thought of as a pioneer of the Romantic movement.

He was a source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism after his death.

Burn has a national day named after him on the 25th January each year. 

At New Year, his poem 'Auld Lang Syne' is still sung to this day.

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The signs were only found when a 'lost' portrait of Burns, who was a high-ranking member of the Freemasons, was cleaned. 

Mr Brannigan, who believes the symbols are deliberate Masonic signs, spent two years analysing the 1787 painting. 

The numbers and letters on the poet's face and head could have been used to indicate Burns' status as a Royal Arch Mason.

The comet could be interpreted as a symbol of the Masonic Blazing Star.

'You won't see the letters on such a general photo as you would need to get far closer,' Brannigan told MailOnline. 

He presented his theory on the 'Da Vinci code of paintings' at a conference held by the University of Glasgow's Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayr.

The lost portrait, named the Shaw of Burns, is believed to be the fourth version of a portrait of Burns which was painted by Nasmyth and is on display in Dumfries House in Ayrshire.

The other versions are currently on display in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow and the National Portrait Gallery, London.  

Jerry Brannigan discovered two areas on Burns' face - one on his forehead, where there are numbers or figures.  'You wont see the letters on such a general photo as you would need to get far closer,' Brannigan told MailOnline.

Jerry Brannigan discovered two areas on Burns' face - one on his forehead, where there are numbers or figures.  'You wont see the letters on such a general photo as you would need to get far closer,' Brannigan told MailOnline.

Pictured is a close up of part of the background of the painting, believed to show a representation of a comet. It could also be interpreted as a symbol of the masonic Blazing Star, one of the most important symbols of Freemasonry

Pictured is a close up of part of the background of the painting, believed to show a representation of a comet. It could also be interpreted as a symbol of the masonic Blazing Star, one of the most important symbols of Freemasonry

Another area of Burn's forehead is shown here, believed to display Masonic-type symbols

'One of these photographs showed up an area in the background over Burns's shoulder and it turned out to be a representation of a comet,' Brannigan told the Sunday Herald.

'That led me to look at two other photos and I discovered two areas on his face - one on his forehead, where there are numbers or figures.

'Then there is another little row again to the side of his forehead, at an angle, with four or five letters.' 

Two areas on Burns's forehead have a series of symbols and letters, which may suggest Burns's status as a Royal Arch Mason. 

The comet could be interpreted as a symbol of the masonic Blazing Star, which was a key symbol of Freemasonry. 

Brannigan adding landscape paintings by Nasmyth also contained possible Masonic symbols.

This includes a figure which can be seen in A View of Edinburgh from the West. It may be an allusion to the Knights Templar.

A close up of Robert Burns forehead where tiny letters and symbols are believed to have been seen. There are similar mysterious tiny letters and symbols in the other paintings of Burns by Nasmyth which he had examined at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery

 

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