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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
The Oval Room White House
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

The Oval Room White House

Object numberMO 1971.3
Name Painting
Artist (American painter, 1876-1964)
Date1934
Mediumpainting: canvas, paint (oil)
frame: wood
Dimensionsframe H 38 1/4 in x W 48 1/8 in x D 2 1/2 in (97.2 cm x 122.2 cm x 6.4 cm )
 painting (on stretcher) H 30 1/4 in x W 40 1/4 in (76.8 cm x 102.2 cm )
DescriptionAn oil on canvas painting, done from life, of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and two of their adult children, Anna and Elliott. The family members are shown by the fireplace in the White House's Oval Study. Seen from left to right: Anna, in a rose-colored gown, is standing by the fireplace; FDR, dressed in a black evening suit, is sitting in a red chair with a book on his lap; Eleanor, wearing a light pink gown, is seated in a leather chair and knitting; and Elliott, also dressed in formal wear, is standing near the window reading a book. Over the fireplace is a painting of the USS DYER by Charles Edwin Ruttan (see MO 1942.237.1). Hanging to the right of the fireplace is a painting by Bernard F. Gribble, "Surrender of the German Fleet to the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow" (see MO 2002.6.4).

The painting is inscribed and signed by the artist in the lower left corner: TO PRES. & MRS. ROOSEVELT / THE OVAL ROOM WHITE HOUSE / JOHN C. JOHANSEN - 1934.

The painting is framed in a 4½" black and gold wood frame.
Label TextThe Roosevelts owned many formal portraits of family members, past and present, but this is the only painting in their collection that depicts more than person. Painted from life in 1934, it offers a rare view inside FDR’s private Study in the White House residence.

The story of this painting begins on November 5, 1933, when the President and First Lady visited the Corcoran Gallery of Art and admired a painting by artist, John Johansen. The Corcoran’s director subsequently contacted Johansen on FDR’s behalf and he agreed to come down from New York to create a painting of the Roosevelt family at the White House.

A series of semi-comic delays then ensued as Franklin and Eleanor attempted to find a date when they and their children could gather and sit for the artist. On several occasions, a frustrated FDR got directly involved—at one point writing a note to his personal secretary: “Do arrange this! FDR.”

Finally, in May 1934, after seven months of false starts and cancelled dates, Johansen came to the White House to execute the painting. Only four of seven immediate family members could be gathered for the occasion.
Additional Details
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPortraits (National Archives Identifier 778816)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - FullyCopyright© John C. Johansen / 1934. Copyright or other proprietary rights are held by individuals or entities other than the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum does not warrant that the use of these materials will not infringe on the rights of third parties holding the rights to these works, or make any representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement, treaty, or protections that may apply. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy any copyright or other use restrictions. Pertinent regulations can be found at 36 C.F.R 1254.62.
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