The Colorado Capitol’s oversight committee for historic preservation is deliberating the potential removal of presidential portraits from the third-floor rotunda, contemplating the installation of paintings depicting the state’s former governors instead.
This discussion gained momentum following President Donald Trump’s criticisms earlier this year regarding his own Capitol portrait, which he described as ‘truly the worst.’
The fallout led to the removal of Trump’s portrait, resulting in an empty space in the rotunda that now sits above a placard recognizing his presidential terms.
Dawn DiPrince, the president and CEO of History Colorado, highlighted the historic importance of the conversation during a recent meeting of the Capitol Building Advisory Committee.
The timing of the discussion aligns with the upcoming sesquicentennial celebration of Colorado’s statehood, and DiPrince argued that the Capitol should reflect the spirit and history of the state.
She pointed out, ‘Capitols for a state should really be a celebration of the state. I feel like Colorado’s 150th birthday is a really wonderful time to do that.’
DiPrince emphasized that it doesn’t make sense to occupy significant space in the Capitol with presidential portraits when several former governors lack representation.
Currently, a limited selection of gubernatorial portraits is displayed on a rotational basis on the first floor of the Capitol.
Notably, unlike many state Capitols, the Colorado Capitol houses portraits of every U.S. president.
Although the conversation surrounding the replacement of presidential portraits with those of governors had emerged prior to the Trump controversy, the incident has heightened interest in the issue.
Former state Senator Lois Court, who chairs the Capitol Building Advisory Committee, indicated that the removal request from the White House provided a unique opportunity to reevaluate how the rotunda space is utilized.
Court remarked, ‘It is, in fact, our state Capitol. It is our space.’
History Colorado has portraits of all but four of the state’s governors, with the absence of a portrait for current Governor Jared Polis being noted among them.
DiPrince mentioned the possibility of using photographs of the missing governors to fill this gap, although concerns about the size discrepancy among the portraits were raised.
The challenge would involve strategic planning to display gubernatorial artwork appropriately on the rotunda’s curved walls.
Moreover, some committee members pointed out that former governors may not be as widely recognized as former presidents, which adds to the difficulty of presenting their portraits effectively.
Georgi Contiguglia, a former president and CEO of History Colorado, stressed the need for educational context to accompany the portraits, making them more relatable and significant for visitors, especially for children.
However, not all members of the Capitol Building Advisory Committee are in favor of replacing the presidential portraits.
Some view the proposed change as a hasty response to the Trump portrait controversy.
Kurt Morrison, deputy Colorado attorney general, commented, ‘That seems to be a very poor reason to open that discussion.’
State Representative William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, expressed skepticism, suggesting that the circumstances surrounding the Trump situation are unlikely to recur.
The committee is also considering a proposal to accept a donated portrait of Trump to fill the void left by the portrait that was taken down.
The original painting was funded by donors after a Republican-led fundraising campaign, and it was created by Sarah Boardman, who shared that the Trump controversy has adversely impacted her long-standing artistic career.
Boardman stated, ‘The situation directly and negatively impacted my business of over 41 years, which now is in danger of not recovering.’
The Capitol Building Advisory Committee has decided to postpone any decisions on the portraits until a later meeting.
image source from：kunc
