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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.
Venetian Building
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Venetian Building

Artifact IDMO 1972.60
Object Type Painting
Artist (American, 1856-1926)
Date1907
Mediumwatercolor on paper
Dimensionsframe H 16 in x W 22 1/2 in x D 1 in (40.6 cm x 57.2 cm x 2.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionA painting of a church and surrounding buildings set on a canal. In the foreground, a wide set of stairs lead from the canal up to the buildings. A bell tower is seen in the left background. The painting is signed and dated by artist in the lower left: Charles S. Forbes / Venice 1907.

The painting is glazed and framed in 3/4" decorative gilt wood frame.





Historical NoteThis painting was a wedding gift to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. It is part of a small set of Venetian scenes presented to the newlyweds in 1905 by Charles Forbes. Forbes was a student and, later, close friend and colleague of John Singer Sargent. He was also a cousin of Sara Delano Roosevelt.

Forbes may have known that the young couple planned to spend part of their honeymoon in Venice.

Eleanor was very fond of the Forbes watercolors. After FDR’s death she displayed them in her New York City apartment. They remained with her until her death in 1962.
Additional Details
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr.
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPrints and Paintings (National Archives Identifier 778817)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view
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