Rare items from life of Cardinal John Henry Newman go on display in Birmingham
Sep 13 2010 by Andy Richards, Birmingham Mail
RARELY seen items from the life of Cardinal John Henry Newman have gone on display in Birmingham.
Items such as the Cardinal’s robes, hat and shoes, not seen the by general public since his death in 1890, now form part of a celebration of his life at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
The exhibition will include personal items of the Cardinal on loan from the Birmingham Oratory, plus the museum’s own collection including a specially conserved painting by Birmingham-born William Thomas Roden entitled Portrait of His Eminence Cardinal Newman.
The portrait, painted in 1879, was commissioned in commemoration of Newman being made a Cardinal and was acclaimed by many as a truly lifelike portrait of the man.
Another major feature of the display is a bust of Cardinal Newman by Richard Westmacott the younger, a sculptor and friend of the Cardinal.
Coun Alan Rudge, Birmingham City Council’s lead on the Papal visit, said: “This display of Cardinal Newman’s personal items viewed against the backdrop of the city’s renowned religious art collections is an extraordinary opportunity for people to visit and appreciate these rarely seen items.
“This unique display will draw visitors from far and wide to see the significant contribution that Cardinal Newman made to our city and the Catholic community around the world.
