Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
The General Armstrong Surrounded by the British Fleet at Fayal, the Azores
Artifact IDMO 1941.3.189
Object Type
Painting
Artist
Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze
(German-American, 1816-1868)
Date1850
Mediumpainting: canvas, paint (oil)
frame: wood
frame: wood
Dimensionsframe H 30 1/2 in x W 47 1/4 in x D 3 1/2 in (77.5 cm x 120 cm x 8.9 cm )
painting (on stretcher) H 22 1/4 in x W 38 1/4 in (56.5 cm x 97.2 cm )
painting (on stretcher) H 22 1/4 in x W 38 1/4 in (56.5 cm x 97.2 cm )
Physical DescriptionA painting of the privateer brig, GENERAL ARMSTRONG, under the command of Captain Samuel Chester Reid. The moonlit scene depicts the ship, listing slightly to one side, surrounded by a series of sailor-laden rowboats. Several larger sailing ships can be seen in the distance on the right. The sky and the moon in the background are heavily obscured by clouds and smoke.
The painting is framed in a 4 3/4" gilt wood frame. Attached to the bottom of the frame is a small metal plaque on which is hand printed an inscription that reads: THE GENERAL ARMSTRONG / surrounded by the British Fleet / at Fayal, the Azores, September 26, 1814 / PAINTED BY EMANUEL LEUTZE / 1816 1868." On the reverse of the frame is the original framer's label for Louis R. Menger, New York City. Also on the reverse is an adhesive sticker with the typed number: C-17.
Historical NoteFranklin Roosevelt was an avid, lifelong collector of prints, engravings, and paintings illustrating the history of the United States Navy. He purchased this Emanuel Leutze painting of the privateer brig General Armstrong at an American Art Association auction in January 1926. It was a major addition to his large collection of American naval art. The painting is framed in a 4 3/4" gilt wood frame. Attached to the bottom of the frame is a small metal plaque on which is hand printed an inscription that reads: THE GENERAL ARMSTRONG / surrounded by the British Fleet / at Fayal, the Azores, September 26, 1814 / PAINTED BY EMANUEL LEUTZE / 1816 1868." On the reverse of the frame is the original framer's label for Louis R. Menger, New York City. Also on the reverse is an adhesive sticker with the typed number: C-17.
Emanuel Leutze is best known for his famous painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His painting of the General Armstrong depicts the American ship in a battle with British naval forces in the Azores on September 26, 1814.
Roosevelt saw the painting listed in the auction catalogue and noted in pencil the maximum price, $150 ($2000 in 2016 dollars), that he was willing to pay for it. He then gave the catalogue to his secretary, Louis Howe, who attended the sale in New York City to bid for him. Howe often performed this task for FDR. Roosevelt purchased a number of naval prints and paintings at the sale.
After his election as president, FDR displayed this painting in the White House. In 1940, he lent it to the United States Naval Academy for a naval history exhibition.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Franklin D. Roosevelt on before September 9, 1940. 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 SeriesUnited States Navy Materials (National Archives Identifier 782673)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.In Collection(s)
Exhibitions
Not on view
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