Whatever happened to the portrait of Barnabas Collins?

If I get asked one question by readers, it's "When is DARK SHADOWS coming back to television?"

If I get asked two questions, though, the other is "Whatever happened to the original portrait of Barnabas Collins?" Well, here's your answer:  According to www.invaluable.com, the original is considered "lost" ... but you can own this recreation by William Stout for the low, low price of OH MY GOD. Here's the auction summary:

William Stout original oil painting of Jonathan Frid as “Barnabas Collins” from Dark Shadows. (ABC, 1966-1971) Masterfully accomplished in oils on 23.5 x 28 in. stretched canvas. In the groundbreaking horror serial/soap opera Dark Shadows, Barnabas Collins played by Jonathan Frid, is a very early instance of an anti-hero. The vampire patriarch of the fictitious Collinwood is to this day a beloved genre icon. In the series one of the most visible images is that of the gothic Barnabas portrait that hung conspicuously on the main wall of the main Collin’s mansion throughout the life of the show. The original is a lost work of art. The legendary fantasy artist and illustrator William Stout has painstakingly recreated this portrait to his own exacting standards and right down to minute detail. Housed in a wood composite, gold-painted frame that also faithfully replicates the original as seen on TV. Signed by the artist and dated 2014 in the lower right corner. In fine condition. $10,000 - $15,000.

Whether you know it or not, you've seen Stout's work before. His art has graced the posters for MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN, Ralph Bakshi's WIZARDS, MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI and more. The live auction for the Barnabas Collins portrait is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. PST on June 30. Now excuse me while I visit to bank to take out another mortgage. Take a gander for yourself HERE.

(H/T to the Dark Shadows News Page.)