Earlier this month, De Niro traveled to Poland, visiting Warsaw and Krakow, where his Nobu Hospitality Group has investments. In a social media post, the museum invited the actor to meet his 'doppelgänger', saying: 'Robert De Niro in Poland!'
The doppelgänger is Johann Vogt, a landowner and a member of the Wrocław city council since 1614. A Polish museum believes it has found an exact replica of Hollywood legend Robert De Niro, but from the distant past, and has invited the actor to meet him during his trip to this Eastern European country.
The National Museum in Wrocław, Poland's third-largest city, houses a portrait of a 17th-century nobleman painted by Bartlomee Strobel. Visitors always comment that he bears a striking resemblance to the star of 'The Godfather'.
Johann Vogt, the landowner and city council member, shares many features with De Niro: he has the same sharp, fox-like eyes, a deep, cynical gaze, facial contours similar to the actor's, and the same unique mole on his right cheek.
When looking at the aristocrat's portrait, dated 1629 when he was 52 years old, his face seems very familiar.
'These two men share some distinctive features and the same sparkle in their eyes,' comments Piotr Oczkowski, the director of the National Museum.
According to the Historia Poszukaj portal: 'Any admirer of Robert De Niro who visits the exhibition of modern Silesian art will be surprised. An American actor looks out from a 17th-century portrait, posed in a richly decorated gold frame. Even the famous mole is in its right place.'
The site also adds that 'the coat of arms in the upper corner indicates the von Vogt family, and the date of 1628 suggests that the painting may be of Johann (1576-1636), a major merchant of Wrocław, who was 52 at the time. During his visit, will De Niro come to Wrocław to see his 'grandfather' portrait displayed in our museum?'
The museum had previously invited De Niro to meet his 'doppelgänger' in 2017, but the famous actor did not respond to the invitation.