Richard P. Heitzenrater, William Kellon Quick Professor Emeritus of Church History and Wesley Studies at Duke Divinity School, has written a pictorial art history book that describes John Wesley’s legacy through many portraits and sculptures of his likeness in life and in death.

The  book, An Exact Likeness: The Portraits of John Wesley, was published by Abingdon Press in April. In the book, Heitzenrater comprehensively examines the main physical renderings of the 18th century Anglican evangelist and founder of the Wesleyan Tradition including portraits, etchings, ceramic busts, and even Wesley’s death mask made in 1791.

Heitzenrater focuses in the book on the main portraits of Wesley and their derivatives by examining  them within three main categories that developed over the years: Oxford don, Methodist preacher, and notable person.

Heitzenrater also serves on the Wesley Works Project Board of Directors as the general editor emeritus  of the Bicentennial Edition of the Works of John Wesley, which includes his work in the seven volumes of Journals and Diaries. He is best known for "breaking the code" of Wesley's personal diaries.