LONDON, ENGLAND.- The Art Fund has awarded a grant of £7,039 to the Museum of Fulham Palace towards the acquisition of an unusual portrait of Bishop Porteus (1731-1809) by portrait painter John Hoppner. The total cost of the purchase was £16,500. Additional funding came from the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and private donations.

Bishop Beilby Porteus, who was Bishop of London and lived in Fulham Palace from 1787 until his death, is best remembered for his support of the Anti-Slavery Movement. The portrait is unusual as Bishop Porteus is shown in non-clerical dress.

The painting will be on display in the Museum for the first three weeks of June only. As restoration work in Fulham Palace is set to begin soon after that, it will not be shown again until late 2006/early 2007. The Museum of Fulham Palace is open Saturdays and Sundays only, 2pm-5pm. Admission is free.