In the following screenshot from the movie My Fair Lady, who is the man in the portrait behind Higgins, and why is his portrait appropriate?
Don’t know for sure, but it does look quite a bit like a young George Bernard Shaw. Which would certainly make sense, but I can’t find that exact portrait.
“The picture on the wall of Professor Henry Higgins’ library (profile, facing left) is of the famous 19th century explorer, geographer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer, Freemason, and diplomat (not the actor) Richard Francis Burton.” - My Fair Lady (1964) - Trivia - IMDb
That’s too many things.
Nice find! The portrait is indeed of Richard Francis Burton. Here’s a link to a better version of the image: NPG 1070; Sir Richard Francis Burton - Portrait - National Portrait Gallery.