In 'The Merchant of Venice', which casket contains Portia's portrait?

In The Merchant of Venice, Portia’s portrait is hidden inside the lead casket.

Portia’s deceased father establishes a test for her suitors: each must choose among gold, silver, and lead caskets. The man who selects the casket containing her portrait will win the right to marry her. The test is designed to punish reliance on wealth, status, and outward appearance.

The Prince of Morocco chooses gold because its inscription appeals to what many people desire. The Prince of Arragon chooses silver because he believes he deserves Portia. Both fail. Bassanio succeeds because he rejects the glitter of the precious metals and chooses the humble lead casket, which contains Portia’s portrait and a message confirming his success.

A frequent mistake is to associate Portia’s portrait with the gold casket, since gold is conventionally linked with beauty and value. Shakespeare reverses that expectation. The lead casket’s inscription warns that the chooser must “give and hazard all he hath,” matching Bassanio’s willingness to risk everything for Portia. The play was likely written between 1596 and 1598.