It's a part of former Gov. Chris Christie that will never leave the New Jersey Statehouse.

The former governor is slated to unveil his official portrait Monday night. The painting will eventually join the 54 other images of New Jersey governors that hang along the hallways of the Statehouse oil Trenton nce the building reopens in mid-2022.

Christie's portrait will be unveiled during a private event in Princeton at the Morven Museum and Garden, which served as the governor's residence before Drumthwacket.

These events used to be joined with fanfare, with the former governor returning to the Statehouse to be joined by the state's sitting governor and other well-wishers.

But the tradition ended in 2010, when Jon Corzine took his portrait unveiling out of the Statehouse and to Morven.

Christie didn't attend that year. He was away on vacation with his family at the time.

Similarly, Gov. Phil Murphy won't be there to deliver remarks at Christie's event. Murphy will be doing his monthly "Ask the Governor" program at the same time.

The state's first lady, Tammy Murphy, and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver will attend instead.

Christie's portrait made headlines earlier in the year after it was reported it would cost $85,000, which is more than taxpayers shelled out for paintings of his three predecessors combined.

The money comes from a taxpayer-funded account of $250,000 that goes to every exiting governor. The money is used to pay for office space, staff and other services, including the official portrait.

The job went to Australian artist Paul Newton, who's won awards for his portraits.

The last former governor to have a portrait unveiling at the Statehouse was Richard Codey, who took Jim McGreevey's spot after he resigned from office in November 2004, three years into his term.

Corzine spoke at McGreevey's unveiling in 2003. It was the first time McGreevey returned to the Statehouse since he resigned.

Where Christie's portrait will ultimately hang is unclear.

The Statehouse is in the midst of a renovation. It's not slated to reopen until 2022.

Currently, the portraits of New Jersey governors dating back to Gov. Brendan Bryne hang on the first floor of the governor's temporary office down the block from the Statehouse.

It'll be up to Murphy to decide whether Christie will join them.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.