Portrait Tour - Old Supreme Court Room

Exit the elevator on floor three and turn left into the Old Supreme Court Room. This courtroom was used by the Michigan Supreme Court from 1879-1970. It is now known as the Senate Appropriations Committee Room.

Artist Spotlight: The Ives Family

Lewis and Percy Ives, father and son, are the artists responsible over a dozen of the portraits hung throughout our capitol. They were among the most prominent Detroit artists in the late nineteenth century. The Old Supreme Court Room features two portraits of chief justices painted by the Ives.

Lewis Ives

Percy Ives

Photos courtesy of the Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library

Portrait of Supreme Court Chief Justice James V. Campbell

Justice James V. Campbell

Lewis T. Ives (1833 - 1894)

Oil on canvas 

1886

Lewis Ives take a classical approach to formal portraiture. He uses several thin layers of oil paint, building up the color gradually and leaving few, if any, brushstrokes behind. His careful, controlled painting technique reveals not only a focused study of Campbell’s features, but of earlier masters and their techniques as well.

For example, the emphasis on line in this portrait is akin to the work of Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo. The use of brown tones throughout the painting also suggests that Ives looked to history for inspiration; this practice was common amongst American portrait artists at the time, who hoped the colors would give their paintings an “Old World” feel.

Portrait of Supreme Court Chief Justice John McGrath

Justice John McGrath

Percy Ives (1864 - 1928)

Oil on canvas

c. 1895

In contrast to his father, Percy paints in a more modern style. He uses the alla prima approach, which involves applying the paint all in one sitting and layering wet paint over wet paint. This leaves behind visible brushstrokes, or traces of the artist's hand, and it adds a sense of spontaneity to the portrait.

Here, Justice McGrath appears focused, though there is a sense of hopefulness and ease to his expression as well. This is mirrored by colorful additions to the portrait's background, which adds a creativity to an otherwise formal piece.