Jack Dempsey Knocks Out Jess Willard
Object numberMO 1945.61.13
Name
Picture
Artist
James Montgomery Flagg
(American illustrator, painter, and author, 1877-1960)
Date1944
Mediumprint: paper, ink
frame: wood
frame: wood
Dimensionsframe H 10 3/4 in x W 24 7/8 in x D 5/8 in (27.3 cm x 63.2 cm x 1.6 cm )
print H 5 7/8 in x W 19 3/4 in (14.9 cm x 50.2 cm )
print H 5 7/8 in x W 19 3/4 in (14.9 cm x 50.2 cm )
DescriptionA color lithograph depicting the Toledo, Ohio boxing match that Jack Dempsey won, becoming the 1919 world champion. The scene shows a raised outdoor boxing ring surrounded by a crowd of spectators looking up at the boxers. In the ring, Jess Willard (on the left) and Jack Dempsey (on the right) are shown in action, while a referee stands off to the left side. Descriptive text along the top of the scene states: "JACK DEMPSEY KNOCKS OUT JESS WILLARD / TOLEDO, O. JULY 4, 1919 AND BECOMES / CHAMPION OF THE WORLD."
The print is within a cream-colored mat on which Dempsey has handwritten an inscription in black ink below the image: “To President Franklin D. Roosevelt / Best Wishes / from Your friend / Jack Dempsey [signature]." To the right of Dempsey’s inscription is the artist’s original signature in red: “JAMES MONTGOMERY FLAGG.”
The print is glazed and framed in a ½” natural wood frame.
Label TextBoxer Jack Dempsey (1895-1983) reigned as the heavyweight boxing champion of the world from 1919 to 1926. After his retirement, he owned a popular restaurant in New York City. In 1944, Dempsey asked artist James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960), who created the iconic Uncle Sam I Want You Army recruitment poster, to paint a mural for the restaurant. It depicted the 1919 title bout in which Dempsey became the heavyweight champion. Dempsey and Flagg were both enthusiastic supporters of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Several weeks after FDR's 1944 reelection victory, Dempsey sent the President this autographed print of the mural.The print is within a cream-colored mat on which Dempsey has handwritten an inscription in black ink below the image: “To President Franklin D. Roosevelt / Best Wishes / from Your friend / Jack Dempsey [signature]." To the right of Dempsey’s inscription is the artist’s original signature in red: “JAMES MONTGOMERY FLAGG.”
The print is glazed and framed in a ½” natural wood frame.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 23, 1945. It was donated as a bequest of FDR to the Library in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. 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 - PossiblyCopyrightCopyright or other proprietary rights may be 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 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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