Seven Former House Speakers Get Official Portraits At The Statehouse

Posted May 23, 2017

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board and the Capitol Square Foundation unveiled the portraits of seven former speakers of the Ohio House of Representatives in a ceremony held in the Rotunda of the Ohio Statehouse.  The leaders, along with their families, friends and colleagues, were there for the unveiling of their portraits. Former Speaker Bill Batchelder, a Republican from Medina, Ohio, who served from 2011-2015, was very pleased with his portrait by Leslie Adams. “Oh, it’s beautiful. It’s just beautiful. As a matter of fact, I don’t look that good.” The event brought 50 years of legislative leadership together on Capitol Square and was standing room only. The program culminated with the unveiling of all seven portraits simultaneously. “The seven portraits broaden the scope and artistic diversity of the Ohio Statehouse’s art collection instantly. These works of art will inspire and educate future leaders of Ohio for generations to come,” said CSRAB Executive Director, Laura Battocletti. Leslie Adams' portrait of Speaker Batchehelder, her eighth portrait included in the permanent collection of the Ohio Statehosue, was unveiled along with portraits by Daniel E. Greene and Ned Bittinger.