The Michigan State Capitol’s portrait collection contains paintings of former Michigan governors, justices, and legislators. Due to the chronological nature of our portraits, the collection serves as an art historical record of both cultural and political concerns from the early nineteenth century to today. Though the collection is intimately tied to Michigan history, a closer study of the artwork and its artists reveals a wealth of national and international connections as well. Many of the Capitol’s portrait artists studied in other states or abroad, drawing inspiration from both their contemporaries and the masters who preceded them.

While it is true that the collection aids in informing visitors about previous governors and legislators of our state – such as their political affiliations, greatest achievements, and values – viewers are also encouraged to pause before each portrait and allow the artwork to speak for itself. Beyond the depiction of each sitter and the symbolism used to communicate their attributes and accolades, the artistic elements, styles, and choices of each piece present their own stories, as individual parts of a larger art history. In this way, the Michigan State Capitol portrait collection is a uniquely valuable subset of American art history.