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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.
Action Between the Serapis & Bon Homme Richard
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Action Between the Serapis & Bon Homme Richard

Artifact IDMO 1941.3.174
Object Type Painting
Artist (British, 1717 - 1791)
Dateca. 1779
Mediumoil on wood fiber hardboard
Dimensionsframe H 24 5/8 in x W 32 1/2 in x D 2 in (62.5 cm x 82.6 cm x 5.1 cm )
Physical DescriptionA painting depicting the action between the ships HMS SERAPIS and USS BONHOMME RICHARD on September 23, 1779 off the east coast of England. The moonlit nighttime scene depicts three ships locked in battle with the British ship SERAPIS on the left and the American BONHOMME RICHARD on the right. Additional sailing vessels can faintly be seen in the right background.

The painting is framed in a 2½" gilt wood frame. A brass plaque attached to the bottom of the frame has the title and artist of the painting: ACTION BETWEEN / THE SERAPIS & BON HOMME RICHARD / PAINTED BY RICHARD PATON / 1717 ― 1791.
Historical NoteFranklin Roosevelt was an avid, lifelong collector of prints, engravings, and paintings illustrating the history of the United States Navy. He purchased this painting in 1926.
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 StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view
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