Official Portrait of Gov. Chafee Unveiled

Governor Lincoln Chafee will be remembered as a man who led Rhode Island during a period of severe economic and political turmoil.

Chafee, who chose not to run for a second term in office, had plenty of supporters, but he had many critics, too. He suffered from low polling numbers and presided over a state still reeling from the 38 Studios debacle, severe unemployment and a languishing economy.

Looking back over his four years as Governor, it’s easy to assume that Chafee might have felt isolated from time to time.

A symbol of that isolation will now be on display at the Rhode Island State House — Chafee’s official portrait, painted by Providence Artist Julie Gearan.

Gearan told Providenceri.com in October that she wanted to “imbue” the painting with a sense of that isolation.

The painting shows Chafee looking to his side in a thoughtful, if not somber, pose. The dark backdrop blends in with his suit. His green tie is slightly askew. Unlike the portraits of his predecessors, there is no American flag in the background, he isn’t sitting confidently on the edge of his desk or in a plush chair in his office.

The painting was commissioned last year and Gearan was selected from a pool of more than 120 artists who applied for the job. She will be paid $15,000, which is what has historically been paid to the official Governor portrait artist.

Julie Gearan is an award-winning artist and teacher. For more information, check out her website.