Those who have been to the Madison Town Campus are likely familiar with the impressive James Madison portrait that hangs in the main meeting room. While the portrait is well known, until now, not as much as known about the artist or how the portrait came to hang in the building.

At its regular meeting on Feb. 11, the Madison Board of Selectmen (BOS) approved a proclamation formally acknowledging resident Joan Cerosky for the painting. Cerosky painted the portrait more than a quarter century ago and then donated it to the town for the opening of the town campus building.

The board thanked both Cerosky and her husband Robert, an involved volunteer in town, for their service.

“The building has been occupied for 25 years this October. I remember being on the building committee when Bob announced that his wife wanted to paint a picture of James Madison,” former town engineer Stewart MacMillan said. “The building committee all agreed that would be a perfect idea and it’s been here almost ever since we have opened…I want to thank Joan for her work.”

State Representative Noreen Kokoruda (R-101) said she was pleased to see the town honor Cerosky so that people in town know how that portrait came to be.

“Now 25 years later I am just so grateful that you honor something that we all take for granted,” she said. “That is the only portrait of James Madison that we have in the town. I am so happy that we are recognizing Joan’s talent and her generosity in giving it to the town.”