Skip to main content
Menu Collections
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
U.S. Constitution and H.B.M Frigate "Java"
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

U.S. Constitution and H.B.M Frigate "Java"

Object numberMO 1941.3.188
Name Painting
Artist
Date1814
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensionspainting (painting on stretcher) H 21 in x W 31 1/2 in (53.3 cm x 80 cm )
 frame H 28 3/4 in x W 38 1/4 in x D 3 in (73 cm x 97.2 cm x 7.6 cm )
DescriptionA painting of the 1812 naval battle between the ships, USS CONSTITUTION and HMS JAVA. On the right is an angled view of the three-masted CONSTITUTION, sails unfurled, flying American flags from the top of a mast and at the stern. To the left of the ship are the remains of the JAVA, consisting of a dismasted hull with a British flag attached to the remnants of a mast at the stern. Pieces of broken sails are seen protruding up through the water in front of the destroyed ship.

The painting is framed in a 4¼" black-painted wood frame. Attached at the bottom of the frame is a gilt wood plaque with an inscription that reads: U.S. Constitution and / H.B.M. Frigate "Java" / by Freeman, 1814.
Label TextFranklin Roosevelt purchased this painting of the USS Constitution and the HMS Java in 1922. FDR had a deep interest in the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”), the most famous ship of the early American navy. He collected manuscripts, a ship log, prints, paintings, and manuscripts connected to its rich history.
Additional Details
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesUnited States Navy Materials (National Archives Identifier 782673)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
Collections
Non exposé
Related Links