Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Portrait Painting of William O'Brien
Object numberMO 1961.148
Name
Painting
Artist
Unknown
Dateca. 1780
Mediumpainting: paint (watercolor), paper, ink
frame: wood, glass
frame: wood, glass
Dimensionsframe H 21 1/4 in x W 14 1/4 in x D 1 3/8 in (54 cm x 36.2 cm x 3.5 cm )
DescriptionA watercolor portrait painting of William O'Brien. It depicts a full-length view of O'Brien dressed in a colonial era outfit consisting of white shirt, pale blue waistcoat and breeches, red frock coat, white stockings, and black cravat, shoes, and tricorne hat. He is standing in a room on the right side of which is an open window through which can be seen British and American ships flying their respective flags. The painting is unsigned.
The painting is glazed and framed in the original 2¼" rustic wood frame with double-sided glass. On the reverse side, three typed labels have been inserted beneath the glass. The first label reads: CAPTAIN WILLIAM O'BRIEN / (died 1784) / great grandfather of L. L. H. Chandler / (from whose estate this water / color was obtained). The second label is an account of "the first sea fight of the Revolution" at Machias, Maine, in which William O'Brien and his brothers took part. The third label is a dedication to FDR that reads: To / PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT / with cordial good wishes of / John J. Dempsey, M.C. / New Mexico / Washington, D. C.
Label TextThis portrait of William O'Brien was presented to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 by Congressman John J. Dempsey of New Mexico.The painting is glazed and framed in the original 2¼" rustic wood frame with double-sided glass. On the reverse side, three typed labels have been inserted beneath the glass. The first label reads: CAPTAIN WILLIAM O'BRIEN / (died 1784) / great grandfather of L. L. H. Chandler / (from whose estate this water / color was obtained). The second label is an account of "the first sea fight of the Revolution" at Machias, Maine, in which William O'Brien and his brothers took part. The third label is a dedication to FDR that reads: To / PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT / with cordial good wishes of / John J. Dempsey, M.C. / New Mexico / Washington, D. C.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated as a bequest of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in 1947.
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
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