C-SPAN's 'American Presidents: Life Portraits' exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library July 18-Aug. 24

[JULY 17, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- Starting Tuesday, "American Presidents: Life Portraits," a presidential portrait exhibit presented by C-SPAN and the White House Historical Association, will be on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. The exhibit will be open to the public through Aug. 24.

"American Presidents: Life Portraits" features the only complete collection of American presidential oil portraits by one artist, renowned painter and sculptor Chas Fagan. Accompanying the Fagan portraits are biographical sketches of all 43 presidents, photographs contributed by the White House Historical Association that capture each president's time in the White House, and historic front pages of American newspapers announcing presidential election results.

Commissioned by C-SPAN in 1999, North Carolina artist Chas Fagan painted the presidential portraits to complement C-SPAN's Peabody Award-winning television series, "American Presidents: Life Portraits." The exhibit debuted in Washington, D.C., in September 1999 and since then has traveled the country, providing historical perspective on the presidency.

The "American Presidents: Life Portraits" exhibit has traveled to many presidential venues, including the Eisenhower Center in Abilene, Kan.; the Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum in Ann Arbor, Mich.; and the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas. The exhibit has also been displayed at the White House Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., and a number of 2004 campaign sites, including the Republican and Democratic national conventions.

About the co-sponsors

C-SPAN, the political network of record, was created in 1979 by America's cable companies as a public service. C-SPAN is currently available in approximately 90 million households, C-SPAN2 in 78.8 million households and C-SPAN3 in 12 million households nationwide. In Springfield, C-SPAN programming is carried as a public service by Insight Communications, a C-SPAN board member company. Insight's affiliate fees help support C-SPAN operations, including this exhibit. For more information about C-SPAN, visit www.c-span.org.

The White House Historical Association, a nonprofit organization, was created in 1961 to enhance understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the White House. The association sponsors lectures, exhibits and other outreach programs. Schools, universities and libraries receive free educational materials about the White House. Traveling exhibits and videos are circulated to the presidential libraries and museums around the country.

[News release from Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and C-SPAN]