William West Jones 

William Orpen painted this portrait of William West Jones, the Bishop of British Columbia, during a time of significant social and religious change. Orpen, an Irish artist, came from a Protestant background but lived through a period of intense religious and national identity struggles in Ireland. This portrait, with its formal composition and focus on the Bishop's vestments, reflects the traditional representation of religious authority. However, there's an undeniable humanity in Jones's gaze, a certain weariness perhaps, that hints at the challenges he faced as a leader in a colonial context. The weight of the Church's history and its role in colonial power structures is palpable. Jones's expression suggests a man caught between the spiritual calling and the earthly responsibilities of his position. The portrait invites us to reflect on the intersection of faith, power, and the individual within a complex historical framework.