Governor James J. Blanchard
(1983-1991)

1998
Painted by Robert Wilbert
Oil on Canvas

This full-length portrait of Governor Blanchard exemplifies the style of Detroit artist Robert Wilbert: simple at first glance, but increasingly rich upon further observation. Here, Blanchard is pictured standing in a relaxed pose, highlighted by a light source originating somewhere out of frame to his right. The background has been reduced to a handful of neutral tones with a two-dimensional quality. This places emphasis on the subject and the symbolic elements of the painting alone.

Wilbert was known to prioritize form over function when it came to portrait props, sometimes incorporating humble objects – like the box included behind Blanchard – in the service of displaying more symbolic items. Here, a handful of items denote significant career accomplishments: the vase of maple leaves for his term as Ambassador to Canada, the model car for the Chrysler rescue package, the white diploma for the Michigan Education Trust, tied with a Spartan green ribbon for MSU, two volumes of the Congressional Record for his service in Congress, and the Michigan state flag. The poster near Blanchard’s right foot features Michigan’s Sesquicentennial stamp design – a nod to Wilbert himself, as he created the winning design.