A POLISH museum has extended an unusual invitation to a visiting Hollywood legend.
The National Museum in Wroclaw reached out to the actor after hearing the star was travelling through Poland.
The museum revealed that it holds a 17th-century portrait in its collection that looks astonishingly like Robert De Niro.
Painted in 1628 by Bartholomaus Strobel the Younger, the work is titled Portrait of Johann Vogt.
It depicts a Wroclaw official and landowner, shown in bust against a dark background, staring intently at the viewer.
Observers have been struck by the uncanny resemblance to the Oscar-winning actor – even down to the moles on his cheek.
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The likeness has drawn increasing attention on social media, prompting the museum to highlight the painting on its website.
“The canvas shows a mature man with a mustache and a distinctive pointed beard, portrayed in bust against a dark background, gazing intently at the viewer.
“Interestingly, the face of the sitter resembles that of contemporary American film actor Robert De Niro.
“The similarity is striking,” the museum said.
Strobel, born in Wroclaw in 1591, trained in Prague under Emperor Rudolf II before working in cities including Gdansk, Elbląg, and Torun.
His best-known works, “The Feast of Herod” and the “Beheading of St John the Baptist,” now reside in Madrid’s Museo del Prado.
The museum renewed its invitation after reports surfaced that De Niro was in Poland, posting: “Robert De Niro in Poland! During his stay, will he visit Wroclaw to see the portrait of his ‘ancestor’ displayed in our museum?”
The actor is said to have arrived last week, making stops in Warsaw and Krakow, where his Nobu hospitality group has investments.
A Nobu hotel and restaurant opened in Warsaw in 2020.
Further further luxury projects are also underway in Krakow.
According to the museum, De Niro left the country without visiting, despite earlier attempts to contact him in 2017 through his agent.
The portrait remains on display on the first floor of the National Museum in Wroclaw.
Earlier in March, fans of the The One Show were gobsmacked when the Hollywood legend appeared on the show.
De Niro was there to promote his new gangster crime thriller movie, The Alto Knights.
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However, some viewers were left disappointed as the star looked disinterested.
One fan commented: “Robert De Niro’s waiting to go home.”