Governor Harry F. Kelly
(1943-1947)

c. 1950
Painted by John Coppin
Oil on Canvas

In this portrait by artist John Coppin, Governor Harry Kelly stands in the middle of an office and gazes out at the viewer. His pose is straightforward and simple, encouraging viewers to focus their attention on the identity of the figure instead. Kelly’s face is painted naturalistically, with wrinkles and under-eye circles visible. His hands, similarly, are finely rendered in a naturalistic fashion. Few brushstrokes are visible in the governor’s face and hands, suggesting that Coppin took a more traditional approach to these elements of the figure; however, the brushstrokes in the man’s suit are visible, though still controlled. Brushstrokes can similarly be seen in the background, aligning the painting more closely with artistic trends of the mid-20th century, which included more prevalent, expressive brushstrokes and fewer ties to traditional styles.

Directly behind Kelly there is a large map of Michigan, which appears to be a painting, that fades out into the brown background on the right side of the canvas. The background continues down behind Kelly’s feet, with little delineation between the wall and the floor. Despite the lack of detail in some areas of the background, other background elements are rendered with great care. The glass on the table to the governor’s right, for example, shows a reflection of Kelly’s fingertips and of the stack of papers atop it. To the man’s left, small details such as a telephone and coffee pot have been added in as well.