Bank of England removes paintings of governors linked to slavery

Following the Black Lives Matter protests last year, the British central bank had said it would review its art collection.

The Bank of England has removed 10 oil paintings and busts of seven governors and directors who had known connections to the slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, it said on Friday. Following the Black Lives Matter protests last year, the British central bank had said it would review its art collection. “The review is now complete and artworks depicting former Governors and Directors, where we have been able to establish links to the slave trade, have been removed from display,” a BoE spokesperson said, adding the central bank has also hired a researcher on slavery for its museum.