Somers continues to rumble on.

Traditionally the portrait in Bermuda Historical Society's museum in Hamilton was thought to be the only one of the great man.

But this view has been shaken this week with the announcement of the discovery of a new painting in a castle in Herefordshire, England.

The authenticity of the painting found in Eastnor Castle has been backed by one of the art expert Dr. Malcolm Rogers, deputy director of the National Portrait Gallery in London.

There have been fears that the Hamilton painting and one of Sir George's wife, which hang in the museum in Par-la-Ville Road, were fakes since 1983.

In that year, Bermudian sculptor Mr. Desmond Fountain was commissioned to produce a bronze statue of Sir George.

Worried about the clothing, Mr. Fountain contacted worldwide authorities on the period and on art from around the world.

He said: "I have it from approximately 60 authorities that the costume and everything about it was atypical of the period.

"It was painted approximately 100 years after the death of Sir George Somers and after the death of the artist.'' The paintings were sold to the Bermuda Historical Monuments Trust by Miss Winifred Bellamy in 1933 and has been in Hamilton ever since.

Mr. Fountain said Miss Bellamy, a descendant of Sir George, is likely to have received information passed on by her grandparents about the picture. He said that somewhere along the line someone had possibly found the portrait and decided it was Sir George who died in 1611.

He said: "The clothes are an example of the fashions of the 1700s, with some Turkish influence. I have an eight inch high pile of correspondence which backs this. Nowadays experts can check authenticity more accurately and quickly. Not only his clothes but his hairstyle is also atypical of the period. There are too many coincidences taking it out of the period.

"I can understand the Historical Society wanting to preserve their investment in this painting. It is becoming a case of will the real Sir George Somers be hung up?'' Mr. Fountain also pointed out that a different name was found on the picture of Sir George's wife.

Executive member of the Bermuda Historical Society, Mr. Keith Forbes said that there will be a meeting of the society to discuss the claims and the new painting in a couple of weeks.

But Mr. Forbes said he backed the authenticity of the painting. He said: "When this painting was purchased painstaking investigations into its authenticity must have been carried out.

"I find it very difficult to accept that the paintings are fake because it tends to impugn the exceptional research which was carried out and the reputation of Miss Bellamy.'' TWO FACES -- Is this the real face of Sir George Somers?