A captivating portrait of Oriel’s Emeritus Fellow, Richard Granville Swinburne, (MA BPhil DipTheol Oxf, FBA,) has recently enriched the college’s art collection. The painting by English artist Simon Taylor, is now hanging in the Benefactors’ Room.
Over the last 50 years Professor Swinburne has been a proponent of philosophical arguments for the existence of God. His philosophical contributions are primarily in the philosophy of religion and philosophy of science and he is widely recognized for his significant contributions to the field. From 1985 until his retirement in 2002 he was Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion.
The artist, Simon Taylor has produced other works of art for the College including a series of portraits in pencil of Oriel’s Fellows that hang on the walls of the Senior Common Room, and watercolour illustrations of Oriel’s buildings.
Simon has also painted the official portrait of the Bishop of Northampton, portraits of Gen Sir Andrew Gregory and Gen Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman for the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery alongside a number for Trinity College. He works in a variety of media including pencil, watercolour, acrylic and oil paints, adapting his technique to suit each subject.