31 May 2012 Last updated at 15:30 ET

Wise-cracking George W Bush likes presidential portrait

George and Laura Bush portraits unveiled

Former President George W Bush was in good humour as he returned to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait.

President Barack Obama welcomed his predecessor to his former home, along with former First Lady Laura Bush.

Mr Bush praised artist John Howard Sanden for "a fine job with a challenging subject".

Also unveiled was a portrait of Mrs Bush. Mr Bush's father, former President George H W Bush, joined him.

After the unveiling, the younger Bush joked that the presidential portraits now had a special symmetry.

"It now starts and ends with a George W," Mr Bush said, referencing the first US president, George Washington.

The 43rd president has made few public appearances since leaving the White House in January 2009.

Of the predecessor whose legacy he often criticises, Mr Obama said: "We may have our differences politically, but the presidency transcends those differences."

And he quipped: "You left me a really good TV sports package... I use it."