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	Bishop William Smalley and artist Peggy Cook (left) and Bishop Richard Grein and artist Diana Grosso stand next to portraits of the bishops the women painted. Photo by Melodie Woerman

Retired bishops surprised by new oil portraits

By Melodie Woerman
Editor, The Harvest

Former Kansas Bishops William Smalley and Richard Grein received a surprise while they were in the diocese for the visit from Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold. At the reception following the festal Eucharist, both men saw new oil portraits of themselves unveiled, a fact that was kept secret from them until that moment.

Painted portraits of six previous bishops, from Thomas Vail through Edward Turner, hang in the diocesan office in Topeka. Bishop Grein (who served 1981-1988) and Bishop Smalley (1989-2003) had been represented by official photographic portraits that were taken while they were in office.

Bishop Dean Wolfe wanted to honor their ministry by replacing the photos with paintings that matched in size those of the other bishops.

Two portrait artists who are married to Kansas priests were chosen to paint the oil portraits, which are based on the existing photographs of the two men. Diana Grosso of Topeka painted Bishop Grein’s portrait, and Peggy Cook of Shawnee painted that of Bishop Smalley.

The finished portraits were placed on easels and hidden under blue drapes until revealed by Bishop Wolfe, as the artists stood nearby. Both men appeared first surprised and then delighted by what they saw.

The portraits are scheduled for hanging in the diocesan office this summer.

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About the artists

Peggy Cook
Cook has studied art for more than 25 years, earning a bachelor of fine arts degree from Wichita State University in 1981. She has continued her studies under noted artists in the Kansas City area. Cook is married to the Rev. Jim Cook, rector of St. Luke’s, Shawnee. She specializes in portraits.

Diana Grosso
Grosso studied painting while a student at North Seattle Community College and the University of Washington. She practiced her art while working in other fields but welcomed the opportunity to be a full-time artist when her husband, the Rev. Andrew Grosso, became canon at Grace Cathedral, Topeka. Oil paint is her primary medium, and she specializes in the human image.