George Richmond, R.A. (London 1809-1896)

The present drawing, depicting a group of figures (including Richmond) gathered round Charles James Blomfield, Bishop of London, must date from between 1843 and 1845, when the debate about church and state was at its height. Richmond was, no doubt, proud of his links with so many of the most influential thinkers of his day, and it may be that the drawing is a fiction, celebrating his connections. Another version of this drawing (National Portrait Gallery, see R. Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, London, 1973, I, p. 41) including only Blomfield, Manning and Gurney is, however, inscribed by Richmond 'Fulham Palace', suggesting that this could be a record of a real meeting or social event that took place at the Bishop of London's official residence. No single association that encompasses all nine as committee members has been found, but several of the nine men depicted shared membership of the same clubs and organisations such as the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor which had been established in 1811 and the Colonial Bishoprics Fund, established in 1841 by the Bishop of London to appoint overseas bishops, in charge of their own dioceses.