An Ottawa man who claims he owns an authentic "life portrait" of William Shakespeare has discovered he is related to the Bard.

A report by the Globe and Mail says British genealogist Pam Hinks has determined that Lloyd Sullivan, who owns the painting known as the Sanders portrait, is a relative of the playwright.

The connection goes deep, considering Sullivan came out with a claim eight years ago that a portrait he owns is that of the Bard at age 39 — an audacious statement as most experts believed at the time there were no portraits of Shakespeare painted while he was alive.

It has gone on display several times and tests indicate it was produced at the right time to be legitimate.

Now, Sullivan can add some familial aura to his assertion. Hinks says her research places the Ottawa man "right in the middle of Shakespeare's relatives and friends" on the genealogy tree.

Hinks initially became involved in 2003 to help Sullivan establish the provenance of his painting.

His claim was overshadowed recently by a declaration in March by William Shakespeare scholars in Britain.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust announced that a portrait — owned by the Cobbe family of Ireland — is the only true image of the Bard that was created during his lifetime.

According to the trust, researchers checked the history of the painting as well as subjecting it to infrared imaging and dating the oak panelling.

That painting is dated around 1610. Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616.