Art lovers have spotted what they claim is an iPhone in a 19th century painting of Robert Burns, leading to some outlandish time travel theories.
The Betrothal of Burns and Highland Mary, which was painted in the early 1880s by R. Josey and James Archer, shows the iconic Scots poet and his lover Mary Campbell declaring their affection for each other.
As reported by the Daily Star, the artwork depicts the couple standing atop the banks of the River Ayr. They both appear to be gazing at one another, clutching a dark rectangle that some say looks like an early iPhone.
The painting has prompted some fascinating discussion within the art community, with some claiming that perhaps Scotland's national poet possessed the ability to travel through time.
However, there is a simpler — and more plausible — explanation. Burns and Campbell famously met to declare their intentions to marry over the west Scotland river in 1786, marking the occasion with the ancient Scottish tradition of exchanging Bibles over a running stream.
Therefore, the mysterious black rectangle in the painting is most likely a Bible and not a sign that the famous poet had time-travelling powers.
However, it is not the first time that an Apple product has supposedly appeared in a historic painting. Earlier in May, art fans spotted what they claimed to be an iPhone in a painting from almost 90 years ago.
Umberto Romano painted Mr Pynchon And The Settling Of Springfield in 1937, approximately 70 years prior to the debut of the first Apple smartphone.
However, fans insisted they could see a man in the corner of the artwork holding a phone to his face.
Many have tried to guess what the mobile-like item could be, with some suggesting it could be a knife or a mirror. Romano died in 1982, before most people even had a mobile phone, so the answer may forever remain a mystery.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.
