Romney portrait to be unveiled at State House

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

The official portrait of former Governor Mitt Romney will be unveiled this evening in a ceremony at the foot of the Grand Staircase in the State House.

former Governor Mitt Romney

New Hampshire artist Richard Whitney painted the one-term governor in what an aide described as an office setting. Following the tradition of other governors, Romney commissioned the work with $30,000 from his state campaign account and will donate the painting to the Commonwealth, said Romney's spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom.

"I don't want to give away any surprises, but it’s a very realistic looking portrait," Fehrnstrom said this morning. "There are some interesting features that I think people will find unique."

The 6 p.m. ceremony is expected to draw 150 to 200 people. Speakers include Romney's former budget chief Thomas Trimarco, former Senate President Robert Travaglini, former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, and Governor Deval Patrick.

By tradition, Romney's portrait will hang in the outer office lobby of the governor's office. Its placement will force the removal of the portrait of former governor John Volpe, with whom Romney's father, George, once served in the Cabinet of President Nixon. Volpe's portrait will hang in the halls.