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You could say the series began 15 years ago when Gardner's mother told him that he looked a lot like his grandfather. "It got me thinking if I [really] looked like my grandfather and if people alive today would bear any resemblance to famous forebears," the photographer told Bored Panda.

There are a number of criteria based on which Gardner chooses the photos he's going to recreate but the more iconic an image is, the better. "It is important that no matter what the person’s achievement that there is a degree of recognition or familiarity. This is not always possible but it is my starting point."

Charles Dickens (Left), 1858 And Gerald Charles Dickens (Right) Dickens's, Great-Great-Grandson

Final score:

310points

POST

tuzdayschild 4 years ago

Definite resemblance

61points

The Internet helps Gardner track down the descendants, but he also works with genealogists and museums. The true magic, however, happens when the photographer starts working with his models. The whole process allows Gardner to form strong connections with the people standing in front of his camera. "Any human connection tends to come about from conversation, so it is more as a result of the dialogue between the two of us in the days, weeks, months or even years running up to the shoot which gives me a 'window' to them as a person and when they expand on their understanding of their forebear, it does deepen the mutual understanding and connection we have, which clearly helps when it comes to the shoot," Gardner explained.

"Sometimes through the viewfinder, I feel a flash of recognition, though I am never sure if it is wishful thinking or more." As for the resemblance, Gardner leaves the viewer to make up their own mind on that. "I do not set out to say that the descendant does or does not look like their forebear."

Emeline Pankhurst (Left) And Helen Pankhurst (Right) The Great-Granddaughter Of Emeline Pankhurst

Final score:

282points

POST

El Dee 4 years ago

This actually just looks like two photographs of the same woman!!

33points

Napoleon (Left), 1812 And Hugo De Salis (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Napoleon

Final score:

224points

POST

Kevin Donegan 4 years ago

The resemblance is striking.

44points

Oliver Cromwell (Left), 1653-1654 And Charles Bush (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Oliver Cromwell

Final score:

203points

POST

El Dee 4 years ago

Not so much except for the NOSE, which is exactly the same!!

61points

Drive Bee 4 years ago

Eyebrows, forehead, general face shape. Lots of similarity.

3points

Brendan 4 years ago

Can you imagine being the descendant of a monster?!

6points

Amy Taft 4 years ago

We all are. Everyone is descended from some monstrous person. No doubt multiple monstrous people. Probably the majority of my ancestors were s****y people. They were definitely racist and sexist, etc. The probability of all of your ancestors being good people is not worth calculating. Granted, not all s****y ancestors were influential enough for their shittiness to cause damage on a large scale.

27points

Dynein 4 years ago

Yes. I'm German, my great-grandfather was a military officer in Nazi Germany. I guarantee you most of us Germans don't have to dig deep to find the nasty bits in our families' pasts. And if you think your own family history is all nice and roses all the way down the line... well, then you're mightily blue-eyed. Welcome to the world.

9points

Catlady6000 4 years ago

Even Jesus had horrible ancestors:/

3points

Blackheart 4 years ago

No one can do anything about the past, only the present and the future.

2points

D D 4 years ago

Why was he a monster? Fact is he was a ruthless dictator. Looking back he did things that would nowadays qualify him as a monster. But things were different then. He probably was not a very nice person... But we have to stop judging history by todays standaards...

1point

Ed Matthews 4 years ago

It's as plain as the nose on my face, no imagination required. What my mother called "the Cromwell hump" when referring to our noses, though not all of us have it.

0points

Ella Blackwood 4 years ago

Not an exact likeness, but considering how far down the line his descendant is, one would have to admit that there are definitely some features that stayed in the family.

2points

Lorraine R 4 years ago

Grandson looks like a much pleasanter character than Oliver.

1point

Curious Cat 4 years ago

more "greats' than Tony the Tiger

1point

Chantel Cummings 4 years ago

I wouldn't claim any relationship with Cromwell.

1point

Mildred Thompson 4 years ago

WOW! Quire a resemblance I'd say!

1point

Mama Panda 4 years ago

The years should read 1653-1658

1point

Rcatheron 4 years ago

He only lived five years?

1point

Pauly Thornton 1 year ago

Kinda same

0points

Luis Hernandez Dauajare 2 years ago

Warts and all?

0points

Alis N. 3 years ago

Eyebrows, mouth, forehead, and also eyes, and though he’s older than Cromwell was at that time, one can still see that Cromwell’s eyelids would have drooped in the same way as he aged. I think this is a particularly striking likeness.

0points

Shinomi Chan 3 years ago

They one on the right has a bit more straight face.

0points

Mildred Thompson 4 years ago

Oh my goodness - even after All of those generations!

0points

Naomi Cline 4 years ago

Same nose!

0points

June Galloway 4 years ago

Oh my! after all those (greats) still looks just like his ancestor

0points

TomiSmith 4 years ago

Has his mothers eyes.

0points

Mildred Thompson 4 years ago

11 generations - WOW!!!

0points

Barbara Stewart 4 years ago

Ehh not so much.

0points

Gloria J Williams 4 years ago

The picture on the left if aged a little more would definitely be a match.

0points

Debbie Hayden 4 years ago

Wow. Very regal.

0points

Sonyah Maree 4 years ago

same nose and receding hairline and thin top lip but that is all.

0points

Dog Lover 4 years ago

Great!

0points

Aynne Pryce 4 years ago

Similar forehead

0points

Martha Higgins 4 years ago

The nose has it!

0points

Only If Panda 4 years ago

who is the only one who read all the great in the title? is it only me? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

0points

BoredPundits 4 years ago

I did, too! Nine "greats". Wow!

0points

Sandra Llewelyn 4 years ago

We need this man in parliament now

0points

Sarah Grace Marsh 4 years ago

That is a lot of greats lol

0points

BJ Smith 4 years ago

Murdering SOB...

0points

Coco 4 years ago

The same evil look

0points

Fixin'Ta 4 years ago

Oliver Cromwell was a horrible person.

0points

Debster 4 years ago

Nose and lips

0points

Frederick Douglass (Left), 1863 And Reuben L. Andrews (Right)

Final score:

192points

POST

Vanessa Yvonne 4 years ago

This is Frederick Douglass, not "Fredrick Douglas"

48points

Charles II (Left), 1653 And Lord Charles Fitzroy (Right) The 9 Times Great-Grandson Of Charles II

Final score:

174points

POST

CG2018 4 years ago

Relative of Inigo Montoya? LOL

109points

Liza De Giocondo (The Mona Lisa) (Left) And Irina Guicciardini Strozzi (Right) The 15 Times Great Granddaughter Of Liza De Giocondo

Final score:

171points

POST

Shelp 4 years ago

Wow, how did they find her?

84points

Berthe Morisot (Left), 1872 And Lucie Rouart (Right) The Great-Granddaughter Of Berthe Morisot

Final score:

164points

POST

Mildred Thompson 4 years ago

YES!

13points

#10

Arthur Wellesley 1st Duke Of Wellingston (Left), 1824 And Jeremy Clyde (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of The 1st Duke Of Wellington

Final score:

163points

POST

El Dee 4 years ago

The resemblance is striking and, as with Napoleon, the build of the two is exactly the same!!

33points

#11

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Left), 1850 And Elizabeth Jenkins-Sahlin (Right)

Final score:

143points

POST

Kathy Baylis 4 years ago

Striking resemblance.

14points

#12

William Wordsworth (Left), 1798 Andtom Wontner (Right) Wordsworth's Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson

Final score:

141points

POST

Andres Tejeda 4 years ago

Actually they bare a very strong resemblance.

20points

#13

Horatio Nelson (Left), 1800 And William John Raglan Horatio Tribe (Right) Nelson's Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson

Final score:

137points

POST

John D 4 years ago

Is this 'Noratio Nelsom' the generic version of Horatio Nelson? Asking for a friend.

13points

#14

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, 1857 (Left) And Isambard Thomas (Right), Brunel's Great-Great-Great-Grandson

Final score:

128points

POST

Kevin Donegan 4 years ago

I'm more impressed by the size of the chain behind them. Wow!

82points

#15

Clive Of India, Robert Clive, 1773 (Left) And Robert Holden (Right) The Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson Of Clive Of India

Final score:

117points

POST

Annemarie Mattheyse 4 years ago

The major difference: Clive of India likely didn't have teeth...

39points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

Read less »

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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What do you think ?

POST

Cori 4 years ago

I wonder how much the matching clothes and backgrounds effect our perception. I tried hard to ignore them and just concentrate on the faces.

54points

Seabeast 4 years ago

Yes, once you get past a 3x great grandparent, that DNA is pretty diluted. Unless some of your ancestors married their cousins and doubled up on some strands, you're getting about 3% or less from the famous ancestor.

22points

Griffin Paul 4 years ago

I think itd be an interesting experiment on perception dressing up non relatives like historical figures compared to actual relatives in normal attire.

3points

Blackheart 4 years ago

They definitely have an effect. I think it was done this way so we would focus more on the people and their faces.

3points

Sue Parry 4 years ago

I’d rather see the descendants with their own hair.

22points

Mad Mar 4 years ago

I am a descendant of Harriet Beecher-Stowe, who wrote Uncle Toms Cabln. And of Francis Scott Key who wrote The Star Spangled Banner.

17points

Joy Stowe 4 years ago

I'm a Stowe!

2points

Jo Choto 4 years ago

I didn't know those two were related in any way!

1point

Amber kersley 4 years ago

My boyfriend is related to George Washington and Clark of Lewis and Clark...I moved here from England when I was 10...slowly taking this country back!

0points

Brittany Sorensen 4 years ago

I'm also a descendant of Francis Scott Key! My maternal grandmother was Betty Key of Michigan!

0points

Chris DiFonso 4 years ago

I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't know who ~half of these people were.

9points

BoredPundits 4 years ago

Yes, it would have been helpful, if the original poster had included a brief bio as to who they all were.

3points

Zara VP 4 years ago

Genetics are truly amazing!

6points

BeatriceBoree 4 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

The Other Jake 4 years ago

Several of these look nothing like their ancestors except for the outfits.

5points

nataliavelez14 4 years ago

The Other Jake good

-1point

tuzdayschild 4 years ago

Some of these folks had strong genes.

5points

Blackheart 4 years ago

I love this post and just really interested in things like this. I just wonder sometimes, who stood where I am standing, who lived in my home before I did. And I wonder about my ancestors, about their personalities, etc.

4points

Mimi777 4 years ago

Same here it’s so wild to think about

2points

Jane W. 4 years ago

Fun stuff, but not that much resemblance in many. Still, fun to compare.

2points

Anton Kider 4 years ago

I wonder whether I resemble any relative of mine from the first century.

2points

Laura Lawson 4 years ago

We also have to remember that the painted portrait depends greatly on the artistic ability of the painter. Faces are notoriously difficult to paint & not every artist has this talent. Plus there is often a lot of....artistic licence going on. To make it as a portrait artist, it helps if you are flattering to the subject! Queen Victoria was absolutely massive in her later years but you would never know as in every known portrait artists would shave many pounds off of her figure to stay in her favour. Her remaining clothing told the truth though!

1point

ZombieGirl 4 years ago

I'm so jealous of people who can trace their families back that far. There are so many adoptions in my family that I can't trace anyone past my grandparents and one great grandparent.

1point

Beks Czar 2 years ago

Not a side by side in costume but Google a young Queen Victoria and Princess Beatrice. It's freaky.

0points

AbbyRock 3 years ago

Napoleon had 1 son who never had children. Is de Salis a descendant of Napoleon's 1st wife, Josephine? If so, he should be compared to her and not to Napoleon.

0points

Kim Bush 4 years ago

As a relative of Alvin C York it's sad when I hear so many people say they don't know who he is, and that history that recent is no longer even being taught in schools. What exactly are our children being taught in history class?

0points

Tammy Ralph 4 years ago

People see what they want to see, most of these bear no resemblance whatsoever except the obvious clothes, hair and facial expressions.

0points

Bill 4 years ago (edited)

Anyone see the obit for Elvis's grandson this week? The Grand Ole Opery staff said it was just like the second coming of Elvis

0points

Karin 4 years ago

I found there were some you really saw the resemblance! Especially eyes, nose shapes, mouths. Strong features are often passed down.

0points

pear blossom 4 years ago

I'm related to Ronnie Waldman, who married Lana Morris, a famous British actress in the 20th century.

0points

Edo Alva 4 years ago

Great!

0points

Cheryl Buckner 4 years ago

charles 2nd had 21 children from all of his mistresses camilla parker bowles is a descendant as was princess diana

0points

sbashor49 4 years ago

Cheryl Buckner good

0points

Heather Moritz 4 years ago

I'm descended from William Brewster of the Mayflower!

0points

jacksonfonseca 4 years ago

Heather Moritz haha

0points

Catherine Spencer-Mills 4 years ago

It would depend on which ancestor you picked as to how much I resembled them. Some I don't resemble at all, others very much so. Did they pick the descendant who bore the most resemblance for these pictures?

0points

Floortje Zeebregts 4 years ago

I am a descendant of my father, but you can hardly see it now...

0points

Mimi M 4 years ago (edited)

Sorry to bust the bubble. but the only thing that DNA tests confirmed was that one of Sally Hemming's children (Eston) shared DNA with a Jefferson male. No proof of who it was - there were several possibilities - and definitely no proof that it was Thomas Jefferson.

0points

Bettye McKee 4 years ago

I was very impressed by the pains taken to replicate the original likeness. This is an interesting article. It's apparent that a lot of work went into this project.

0points

ReaRae 4 years ago

My great-great-great-great grandfather is Chaim Weizmann, the 1st President Of Israel

0points

Doggo Georgia 4 years ago

Cool! 😃

1point

Anise Kim 4 years ago

This was so cool! The resemblances are striking!

0points

MacDudu 4 years ago

It's a bit of a reach having to people dress up to resemble their ancestors. The Frederick Douglass guy in a fright wig was hilarious more than convincing.

-1point

jevais 4 years ago

The only person that is good looking is Thomas Jefferson's great, great grandson. The other people are ordinary looking.

-1point

Katie Taylor 4 years ago

I had an ancestor named Arthur Adams, who was apparently a rather well-to-do steel merchant back in the UK. We have a well preserved black and white photograph of him, and he looks *exactly* like my grandfather. You can see my mother in him as well, especially around the eyes and nose. It's uncanny.

-1point

Niall Mac Iomera 4 years ago

This is the epitome of our dumb celebrity worship culture

-2points

Jo Choto 4 years ago

I wanted the resemblances to be much stronger, but it's not likely after so many generations. I really liked the costuming copies. Shame they couldn't find an actual black hair style wig for Frederick Douglass's relative.

-2points

POST

Cori 4 years ago

I wonder how much the matching clothes and backgrounds effect our perception. I tried hard to ignore them and just concentrate on the faces.

54points

Seabeast 4 years ago

22points

Griffin Paul 4 years ago

I think itd be an interesting experiment on perception dressing up non relatives like historical figures compared to actual relatives in normal attire.

3points

Blackheart 4 years ago

They definitely have an effect. I think it was done this way so we would focus more on the people and their faces.

3points

Sue Parry 4 years ago

I’d rather see the descendants with their own hair.

22points

Mad Mar 4 years ago

I am a descendant of Harriet Beecher-Stowe, who wrote Uncle Toms Cabln. And of Francis Scott Key who wrote The Star Spangled Banner.

17points

Joy Stowe 4 years ago

I'm a Stowe!

2points

Jo Choto 4 years ago

I didn't know those two were related in any way!

1point

Amber kersley 4 years ago

My boyfriend is related to George Washington and Clark of Lewis and Clark...I moved here from England when I was 10...slowly taking this country back!

0points

Brittany Sorensen 4 years ago

I'm also a descendant of Francis Scott Key! My maternal grandmother was Betty Key of Michigan!

0points

Chris DiFonso 4 years ago

I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't know who ~half of these people were.

9points

BoredPundits 4 years ago

Yes, it would have been helpful, if the original poster had included a brief bio as to who they all were.

3points

Zara VP 4 years ago

Genetics are truly amazing!

6points

BeatriceBoree 4 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

The Other Jake 4 years ago

Several of these look nothing like their ancestors except for the outfits.

5points

nataliavelez14 4 years ago

The Other Jake good

-1point

tuzdayschild 4 years ago

Some of these folks had strong genes.

5points

Blackheart 4 years ago

4points

Mimi777 4 years ago

Same here it’s so wild to think about

2points

Jane W. 4 years ago

Fun stuff, but not that much resemblance in many. Still, fun to compare.

2points

Anton Kider 4 years ago

I wonder whether I resemble any relative of mine from the first century.

2points

Laura Lawson 4 years ago

1point

ZombieGirl 4 years ago

I'm so jealous of people who can trace their families back that far. There are so many adoptions in my family that I can't trace anyone past my grandparents and one great grandparent.

1point

Beks Czar 2 years ago

Not a side by side in costume but Google a young Queen Victoria and Princess Beatrice. It's freaky.

0points

AbbyRock 3 years ago

Napoleon had 1 son who never had children. Is de Salis a descendant of Napoleon's 1st wife, Josephine? If so, he should be compared to her and not to Napoleon.

0points

Kim Bush 4 years ago

0points

Tammy Ralph 4 years ago

People see what they want to see, most of these bear no resemblance whatsoever except the obvious clothes, hair and facial expressions.

0points

Bill 4 years ago (edited)

Anyone see the obit for Elvis's grandson this week? The Grand Ole Opery staff said it was just like the second coming of Elvis

0points

Karin 4 years ago

I found there were some you really saw the resemblance! Especially eyes, nose shapes, mouths. Strong features are often passed down.

0points

pear blossom 4 years ago

I'm related to Ronnie Waldman, who married Lana Morris, a famous British actress in the 20th century.

0points

Edo Alva 4 years ago

Great!

0points

Cheryl Buckner 4 years ago

charles 2nd had 21 children from all of his mistresses camilla parker bowles is a descendant as was princess diana

0points

sbashor49 4 years ago

Cheryl Buckner good

0points

Heather Moritz 4 years ago

I'm descended from William Brewster of the Mayflower!

0points

jacksonfonseca 4 years ago

Heather Moritz haha

0points

Catherine Spencer-Mills 4 years ago

0points

Floortje Zeebregts 4 years ago

I am a descendant of my father, but you can hardly see it now...

0points

Mimi M 4 years ago (edited)

0points

Bettye McKee 4 years ago

I was very impressed by the pains taken to replicate the original likeness. This is an interesting article. It's apparent that a lot of work went into this project.

0points

ReaRae 4 years ago

My great-great-great-great grandfather is Chaim Weizmann, the 1st President Of Israel

0points

Doggo Georgia 4 years ago

Cool! 😃

1point