Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Artwork under copyright: Artwork © Marie-Suzanne Marotte.
Hommage au President Roosevelt
Object numberMO 1950.82.3
Name
Painting
Artist
Marie-Suzanne Marotte
(French artist, 1894-1976)
Date1945
Mediumpaper, paint (watercolor), ink
Dimensionsoverall H 21 7/8 in x W 25 1/2 in (55.6 cm x 64.8 cm )
DescriptionAn original watercolor painting that pays tribute to Franklin D. Roosevelt's part in the liberation of France during World War II. The painting features several symbolic scenes and images of war-related carnage. In the forefront stands the female figure of Marianne, the Goddess of Liberty and the symbol of the French Republic. She is saluting with her right hand as she looks up into a dramatic cloud-filled sky where the figure of Franklin D. Roosevelt is standing at the base of a staircase that leads up to a star. Marianne's left arm is angled downwards towards a group of injured and deceased soldiers on the ground with other soldiers standing near them. On the ground to her right is a seated group of women and children (one of which appears deceased) with one woman raising her arm in acknowledgment to the figure of FDR. A scene of still-burning destruction is visible beyond them. In the background is a concentration camp or a prisoner of war camp with a watch tower. In the sky above the camp, to the left, is a view of charging soldiers bearing flags that represent the United States, France, and other Allied nations. The painting is signed by the artist and dated in the lower right corner: M. S. Marotte / 1945.
Attached to the bottom of the painting is a piece of brown paper on which is a handwritten ink note that reads: Among the mournfulness of the war / France sends her deepling grateful salute to Président Roosevelt / and will never forget he was the chief promoter of Délivrance.
Label TextIn February 1949, the “Train de la Reconnaissance Française” (French Gratitude Train), consisting of forty-nine French railroad boxcars, arrived in New York Harbor. Informally known as the “Merci Train,” the boxcars were filled with gifts of gratitude from French citizens to show appreciation for the American boxcars of food and relief goods that were previously sent to France in 1947 on what was called the “Friendship Train”. Each of the then-48 American states received one of the gift-filled French box cars with Washington, DC and the Territory of Hawaii sharing the 49th car.Attached to the bottom of the painting is a piece of brown paper on which is a handwritten ink note that reads: Among the mournfulness of the war / France sends her deepling grateful salute to Président Roosevelt / and will never forget he was the chief promoter of Délivrance.
This symbolic painting honoring Franklin D. Roosevelt was from the box car given to Wisconsin. The painting was then presented to Eleanor Roosevelt in July 1949 by the State Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin.
The artist of the painting, Marie-Suzanne Marotte, presented another very similar painting directly to Eleanor Roosevelt (see MO 1974.169).
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Eleanor Roosevelt.
Credit LineGift of Eleanor Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPrints and Paintings (National Archives Identifier 778817)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - FullyCopyright© Marie-Suzanne Marotte / 1945.
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.Collections
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