Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Print under copyr…
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Print under copyright: Print © New York Graphic Society Ltd.
Gray Morning
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Print under copyr…
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Print under copyright: Print © New York Graphic Society Ltd.

Gray Morning

Artifact IDMO 2006.242.4
Object Type Print
Artist (American painter, 1915-1976)
Publisher (American publisher of fine art reproductions, founded 1925)
Date1942
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsoverall H 17 3/8 in x W 22 1/8 in (44.1 cm x 56.2 cm )
Physical DescriptionA print of a watercolor painting depicting a closeup view of the bridge on a WWII merchantman ship at sea. Beneath a gray sky, the scene shows the bridge of the ship on which three sailors, outfitted in cold weather clothing, are looking out over rough waters at another ship in the distant background. On the left side of the scene a ladder leads up to a platform where additional sailors are gathered around a signal light. The artist has initialed and dated the original artwork in the lower left corner: MJ 1942.

Printed and centered below the image is the title and information regarding the painting: Gray Morning / BY LT. (jg) MITCHELL JAMIESON / (U.S.N.R.–-OFFICIAL U.S. NAVY COMBAT ARTIST) / A scene on the bridge with escorting destroyer to starboard / as a convoyed merchantman plows through a choppy sea.

Printed just below the image, lower left: © N. Y. G. S. / COPYRIGHT NEW YORK GRAPHIC SOCIETY, FINE ART PUBLISHERS.

Printed just below the image, lower right: PRINTED IN U.S.A. BY PERMISSION OF UNITED STATES NAVY.
Historical NoteMitchell Jamieson (1915-1976) became an artist for the Treasury Department’s Art Project, part of the WPA, in the 1930s. During that time he was commissioned to paint murals in various government buildings, including the mural of Marian Anderson in the Interior Building in Washington, D.C. In 1940, he spent a summer as an artist-in-residence in Dutchess County, New York, where he undertook several private commissions for U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. Jamieson later joined the Navy during World War II as an officer-artist. Jamieson’s paintings serve as a record of what he witnessed during war.

The original watercolor painting from which this print was made is in the U.S. Navy Art Collection (accession number 88-193-Q).
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated as a bequest of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum 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 StatusRestricted - Fully
Copyright© New York Graphic Society Ltd. / 1972. Copyright or other proprietary rights are 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 these 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.
In Collection(s)
Not on view