This imposing portrait of Dr Lewis Edwards was painted for Coleg y Bala (Bala Theological College). It hung there until the College relocated to Aberystwyth and, on closure, the portrait, alongside the other pictures in the collection were purchased by The National Library. Barrett is most remembered as the portraitist of Florence Nightingale. He specialised in large scale, grand and heroic depictions of contemporary figures. Edwards was an intellectual giant in Wales, whose influence is still felt today. His great work was as Principal of Bala College but, far from being a theological mission alone, he had a clear vision that learning of every kind enriched and elevated a nation. Under his editorship the periodical ‘Traethodydd’ became a vehicle for new learning and gave scholars the opportunity to write in Welsh about diverse and profound matters.