A Jane Austen biographer has criticised the Bank of England for selecting an “airbrushed” portrait of the author for its new £10 note.
Oxford University fellow Dr Paula Byrne said the 1870 image was a “makeover” of an earlier portrait composed by the novelist’s sister Cassandra.
But the Jane Austen Society, which was consulted by the Bank of England, felt it was a good choice.
The Hampshire-born writer was chosen to replace Charles Darwin on the £10 note.
It is expected to come into circulation from 2017.
Dr Byrne, author of The Real Jane Austen, said the chosen image made Austen look like “a pretty doll with big doe eyes”.
“It’s a 19th Century airbrushed makeover,” said the fellow.
