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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.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Portrait Prints
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Portrait Prints

Artifact IDMO 1998.30
Object Type Print
Artist (British artist and printmaker, 1881-1967)
Issuing Body (British weekly magazine, founded 1897)
Date1937
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsoverall H 14 3/8 in x W 18 3/4 in (36.5 cm x 47.6 cm )
Physical DescriptionA double-page magazine insert featuring color prints of portrait paintings of British monarchs King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth. The Queen's portrait is on the left and the King's is on the right.

The three-quarter length portrait of Queen Elizabeth shows her standing, dressed in a long white gown with various medals pinned to it and a fur-lined mantle. She is also wearing a six-strand pearl necklace, several bracelets, and a jeweled tiara and is holding a closed fan in her hands. The artist's facsimile signature is in the lower right corner: Frank E. Beresford / 1937. Printed below the portrait is the title and artist's information: HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH / Painted for "Country Life" by Frank Beresford.

The portrait of King George VI shows him standing (from the knees up) dressed in his Royal Navy Admiral of the Fleet full dress uniform including medals and badges, a cocked hat, cloak, and sword. The background of the painting is formed of the sea and sky. The artist's facsimile signature is in the lower right corner: Frank E. Beresford / 1937. Printed below the portrait is the title and artist's information: HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI / Painted for "Country Life" by Frank Beresford.

Printed along the top of both the left side and right side of the supplement page is the following: Supplement to the Coronation Number of "Country Life," April 17th, 1937. The artist's original ink signature is in the bottom right corner of the page: Frank E. Beresford / the 12th of May / 1937.
Historical NoteIn 1937, artist Frank E. Beresford completed portrait paintings of the United Kingdom's King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, shortly before their May 12, 1937 coronation. The paintings were created for English magazine, Country Life, and appeared in this supplement to the magazine's April 17th, 1937 Coronation issue.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteFrom the "'Country Life' magazine, April 17, 1937: Reprint Collection" in the FDR Library Archives. Transferred from the FDR Library Archives, 1998.
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPortraits (National Archives Identifier 778816)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - Possibly
CopyrightCopyright 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.
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