Portrait of a Bishop

Lawrence painted this Portrait of a Bishop around 1800, depicting an unidentified Church of England prelate in episcopal robes. Lawrence painted numerous bishops and archbishops throughout his career, documenting the ecclesiastical hierarchy that was intertwined with the Georgian political establishment. Bishops were significant patrons of portraiture, commissioning works for cathedrals, palaces, and institutions. Now in the Salford Museum and Art Gallery, the portrait represents the clerical dimension of Lawrence's comprehensive portrayal of the British establishment.

Lawrence handles the clerical vestments with practiced ease, the white lawn sleeves providing a striking contrast to the dark robes. The face is painted with quiet authority, the brushwork more restrained than in Lawrence's most brilliant society portraits but entirely appropriate to the dignity of the subject.