Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
George Washington
Artifact IDMO 1974.351.2
Object Type
Portrait
Artist
Arthur Szyk
(Polish-American political cartoonist and book Illustrator, 1894-1951)
Publisher
Max Jaffé
(Austrian collotype producer, photographer, and print publisher, 1845 - 1939)
Date1932
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsmat (mat folder) H 12 1/4 in x W 9 3/8 in (31.1 cm x 23.8 cm )
sheet H 8 1/8 in x W 7 in (20.6 cm x 17.8 cm )
sheet H 8 1/8 in x W 7 in (20.6 cm x 17.8 cm )
Physical DescriptionA reproduction print of a detailed miniature watercolor painting featuring a portrait of George Washington. It depicts Washington, from the waist up, dressed in a blue and gold uniform coat and white waistcoat. On his head is a black tricorn hat. A partially drawn drape in the background reveals a view of Mount Vernon on the left side. On the right side of the image is a fabric-covered table holding a book, above which is shown the Great Seal of the United States and a plaque with the words of the Declaration of Independence. Below the portrait is a title box: “GEORGE WASHINGTON”. The artist’s facsimile signature is in the lower left corner of portrait: "ARTHUR SZYK , PARIS 1931.” Printed in the lower right corner of artwork page: " Printed in Austria."
The print is attached to the interior of a mat folder. Beneath the print is information regarding the subject matter of the print.
Historical NotePolish artist Arthur Syzk created series of 38 individual original watercolor paintings entitled, "George Washington and His Times," for publisher and printer Max Jaffe of Vienna to mark the 1932 bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. The paintings were exhibited at the French Exposition in Paris. This print is one in a set of color reproductions (MO 1974.351.1-38) of the series issued by Jaffe. The set of prints was presented to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934, on the occasion of George Washington’s birthday, by Dr. Mieczyslaw Marchlewski, Polish Consul General at New York.The print is attached to the interior of a mat folder. Beneath the print is information regarding the subject matter of the print.
In 1935, Polish President Ignacy Mościcki purchased the set of original paintings and presented it to President Roosevelt. In a letter of thanks, FDR wrote, “I am deeply grateful for this admirable collection of illuminated miniatures depicting incidents of our War for Independence in which Washington was so generously and admirably aided by Kosciuszko and Pulaski.” The paintings hung in the White House until 1941.Additional Details
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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