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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/19/slave-traders-portrait-removed-from-bristol-lord-mayors-office
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| Slave trader’s portrait removed from Bristol lord mayor’s office | Slave trader’s portrait removed from Bristol lord mayor’s office |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The lord mayor of Bristol has had a portrait of the slave trader Edward Colston removed from her office after deciding she could not share her working space with the image. | The lord mayor of Bristol has had a portrait of the slave trader Edward Colston removed from her office after deciding she could not share her working space with the image. |
| Dating back to 1702, the painting has belonged to the city council for decades and has hung in the office of the lord mayor since at least 1953. | Dating back to 1702, the painting has belonged to the city council for decades and has hung in the office of the lord mayor since at least 1953. |
| But Cllr Cleo Lake ordered that it be removed and wants it to be placed in a museum that tells the story of Bristol’s role in the slave trade. | But Cllr Cleo Lake ordered that it be removed and wants it to be placed in a museum that tells the story of Bristol’s role in the slave trade. |
| She told BristolLive: “I’m coming to the end of my first month in office, and this is my parlour, which is a lovely space. | She told BristolLive: “I’m coming to the end of my first month in office, and this is my parlour, which is a lovely space. |
| “I spend a lot of time here, I’m here nearly every day. I won’t be comfortable sharing it with the portrait of Colston.” | “I spend a lot of time here, I’m here nearly every day. I won’t be comfortable sharing it with the portrait of Colston.” |
| Lake is a member of the Countering Colston campaign group, which challenges what it sees as a celebration in Bristol of the slave trader’s life, be that in images, names of buildings, institutions, streets and events. | Lake is a member of the Countering Colston campaign group, which challenges what it sees as a celebration in Bristol of the slave trader’s life, be that in images, names of buildings, institutions, streets and events. |
| “As part of my role in campaigning with the Countering Colston team, I also think it’s fitting that I don’t share this office with the portrait,” said Lake, who is a Green party councillor. | “As part of my role in campaigning with the Countering Colston team, I also think it’s fitting that I don’t share this office with the portrait,” said Lake, who is a Green party councillor. |
| “Luckily, there’s been a lot of support and the council has agreed to take it down.” | “Luckily, there’s been a lot of support and the council has agreed to take it down.” |
| She said the picture would go into storage and she hopes ultimately it may be displayed in a museum on the slave trade and its abolition. | She said the picture would go into storage and she hopes ultimately it may be displayed in a museum on the slave trade and its abolition. |
| The Colston portrait has been replaced with a painting of a lion. Lake said she bought it at the Help Bristol’s Homeless auction. “It’s by a Bristol-based artist,” she said. “It’s something that’s a bit different, modern with a nice bit of nature - a nice bit of heraldry. I wanted something more vibrant.” | |
| Last year civil rights campaigners, music lovers and artists welcomed a decision by Bristol’s largest concert hall, Colston Hall, to ditch the slave trader’s name after years of protests and boycotts. | Last year civil rights campaigners, music lovers and artists welcomed a decision by Bristol’s largest concert hall, Colston Hall, to ditch the slave trader’s name after years of protests and boycotts. |
| Bristol Cathedral entered the debate when its dean said it was prepared to remove its biggest stained glass window because of its close association with Colston. | Bristol Cathedral entered the debate when its dean said it was prepared to remove its biggest stained glass window because of its close association with Colston. |
| However, such moves are not universally popular, with many believing the moves are designed to eradicate Colston’s name from the city’s history, which they find problematic. | However, such moves are not universally popular, with many believing the moves are designed to eradicate Colston’s name from the city’s history, which they find problematic. |
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