Portrait shows morbid Poe in more flattering terms

[February 04, 2010]  BALTIMORE (AP) -- Edgar Allan Poe is known for his fertile imagination, not his good looks.

But a portrait of Poe that's never been seen in public casts the macabre author in a more flattering light.

The small watercolor by A.C. Smith shows Poe sitting at desk with pen and paper in hand. His famous mustache is missing, and there's the slightest hint of a smile on his face.

The portrait will be unveiled Saturday in Baltimore as part of Poe's birthday celebration.

Its owner, Cliff Krainik (CRANE'-ik), plans to sell the portrait at auction later this year. Auctioneer Wes Cowan expects it to sell for $30,000 to $50,000 -- and he says that's a conservative estimate.

It's one of just three existing portraits of Poe. The more familiar images of him are daguerreotypes taken in the final years of his life.

[Associated Press; By BEN NUCKOLS]

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