Painter Says He Included Monica Lewinsky's Dress In Bill Clinton's Official Portrait

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“The Clintons hate the portrait,” Nelson Shanks told the Philadelphia Inquirer.


The artist behind former President Bill Clinton's official portrait says he included a reference to Monica Lewinsky in the painting.


The artist behind former President Bill Clinton's official portrait says he included a reference to Monica Lewinsky in the painting.


The Washington Post / Getty Images


Shanks has painted portraits of numerous dignitaries during his career, including Pope John Paul II and Princess Diana.


However, he told the newspaper he found Clinton among the hardest to paint.


"The reality is he's probably the most famous liar of all time," Shanks said. "He and his administration did some very good things, of course, but I could never get this Monica thing completely out of my mind and it is subtly incorporated in the painting."



Jonathan Ernst / Reuters


Shanks said he incorporated the scandal into the painting through a shadow that can be seen on the left of the painting.


Shanks said he incorporated the scandal into the painting through a shadow that can be seen on the left of the painting.


"It actually literally represents a shadow from a blue dress that I had on a mannequin, that I had there while I was painting it, but not when he was there," he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It is also a bit of a metaphor in that it represents a shadow on the office he held, or on him."


npgportraits.si.edu




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