Archbishop Bernard's inauguration portrait on display


A portrait of Archbishop Longley is currently being displayed at the Royal Portrait Society’s Annual Portrait Exhibition 2018.

The oil painted inauguration portrait of His Grace Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham is by Michael Noakes and can be viewed at the Mall Galleries, London until May 25.

The exhibition is celebrating the very best in contemporary portraiture nationally and internationally. Unlike other portrait exhibitions, it is rigorously selected by professional portrait painters who themselves have been elected by their peers to the Society.

The portrait of His Grace depicts the Archbishop with a wall of pictures behind him, which have themselves significance.
From l-r across the top:
  • the Papal Bull of St John Paul II appointing +Bernard Longley as Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Zarna (2003)
  • Blessed Dominic Barberi
  • St Chad
  • Metropolitan Chapter Canons (2010)

Beneath these pictures, also l-r are:

  • Pope Benedict XVI and the Hierarchy of England and Wales at St Mary&s College, Oscott on 19 September 2010
  • Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman (Spy cartoon 1877)
  • Papal Bull of Pope Benedict XVI appointing +Bernard Longley as Archbishop of Birmingham (2009)

Also to note:
The Archbishop wears the Episcopal Ring of Archbishop William Bernard Ullathorne O.S.B, first Catholic Bishop of Birmingham (1806-1889)

His Grace also wears a Pectoral Cross received from Pope St John Paul II in 2003

For more details on the exhibition, please visit the Royal Portrait Society website.

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