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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.
Sarah Alvey Delano Portrait
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Sarah Alvey Delano Portrait

Artifact IDMO 1988.10
Object Type Painting
Artist (American, 1788 - 1857)
Dateca. 1843
MediumPaint (oil), Textile (canvas), Wood
Dimensionsframe H 36 1/8 in x W 31 in x D 3 in (91.8 cm x 78.7 cm x 7.6 cm )
 painting (on stretcher) H 27 in x W 21 3/4 in (68.6 cm x 55.2 cm )
Physical DescriptionAn oil on canvas portrait of Sarah Alvey Delano, seated, from the lap up, body slightly turned to the right of the painting and head turned to the left of the painting. She is wearing a white off-the-shoulder gown with pink roses at the bodice and a gold stole with blue lining. Seated in a maroon and gold upholstered chair, her right arm rests in her lap, and her left hand is raised to her check while the elbow rests on a table covered with a beige and maroon tablecloth. On the table sits a blue vase filled with flowers. The painting is unsigned and undated, but is attributed to William E. West.

The painting is framed in 5" molded gilt wood frame. A plaque attached to the bottom of the frame is inscribed: SARA [sp.] DELANO / 1822-1880 / PAINTED ABOUT 1843 BY WILLIAM G. WEST. The original framer's label is on the reverse of frame and is difficult to read: Wm. S. Conelm [?].
Historical NoteSarah Alvey Delano (1822-1880) was the daughter of Warren Delano II and Franklin Roosevelt's great aunt. It was after her that FDR's mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, was named.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteReceived through exchange from the Walters Art Gallery in 1988.
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPortraits (National Archives Identifier 778816)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view