Twelve former governors do not have portraits in the Capitol. But the Michigan Capitol Commission dedicated the portrait of Governor Kinsley Bingham today.
The Capitol Commission has been working to restore these so-called “missing governors” for just over a year. Now Governor KinsleyBingham, who served as governor from 1854 to 1859, will take his place on the walls of the Capitol.
Joshua Adam Risner painted the portrait. He says the portrait was inspired by, but not a copy of, an original portrait of Bingham.
“I want to say for the artist that the shadow structure is accurate but then all the color that goes on top is like sort of just the way I – like how I brought him to life and that was my own addition.”
Bingham was the first Republican governor of Michigan. He split from the Democratic Party mainly because he opposed slavery.