"THE HOUSE WILL DIVIDE" by Noel Murphy

The portrait shows the Assembly during a division as Members gather to enter or leave the voting lobbies. All 108 current Members are included as well as the late Mr Tom Benson who died in December 2000, Mr John Hume MP MEP and the late Mr Arthur Doherty , who resigned their seats on 1 December 2000 and 31 August 2002 respectively. Also included in the portrait are some Assembly officials.

Belfast artist Noel Murphy was commissioned to undertake the work. The painting, which is in oil on canvas and measures 4'6 x 8', hangs in the Senate Chamber in Parliament Buildings. The artist used photographs, video footage and personal sittings to paint the individual portraits. The Speaker, Lord Alderdice, unveiled the painting on 10 February 2003.

The inspiration for the portrait of the Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly came from William Conor's depiction of the State Opening of the Northern Ireland Parliament in 1921 by His Majesty King George V in Belfast City Hall.

STATE OPENING OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND PARLIAMENT IN 1921 by William Conor

William Conor, a distinguished artist was appointed to paint the Opening of the First Northern Ireland Parliament by King George V on 22 June 1921, in the Council Chamber in Belfast City Hall.

The painting, which is in oil on canvas and measures 2'9 x 4'6, now hangs in the Senate Chamber in Parliament Buildings. Conor used a black and white photograph to enable him to position the Members of the House of Commons correctly as they faced His Majesty King George V. The painting was unveiled in 1922.

Historical sources claim that Conor received a cheque for £131. 6s. 0d for the painting, a figure which fell far short of the original £200 that had been agreed.

PORTRAIT OF MR SEAMUS MALLON MP MLA by Rita Duffy

The portrait of Mr Seamus Mallon MP MLA which was painted by Belfast artist Rita Duffy, is on permanent display in the Members' Dining Room in Parliament Buildings.

The Assembly Commission decided that portraits would be painted of all retiring First Ministers and Deputy First Ministers. Mr Mallon held the position of Deputy First Minister from July 1998 until his retirement in November 2001.

The portrait measures 5' x 3'6 and is in oil on canvas.

PORTRAIT OF LORD ALDERDICE by Carol Graham

Following his retirement as Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 29 February 2004, representatives of some of the main political parties in the Assembly proposed the commissioning of a portrait of Lord Alderdice in recognition of his significant contribution to the establishment and work of the Assembly. The proposal was approved by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP, acting in lieu of the Assembly Commission.

The portrait, which was painted by Ms Carol Graham, is in oils on canvas and measures 6' X 4'6", was unveiled on 11 March 2005. It hangs in the Members' Dining Room in Parliament Buildings.