Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
U.S.S. PHILADELPHIA
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

U.S.S. PHILADELPHIA

Artifact IDMO 1941.3.183
Object Type Painting
Artist (British-American, 1779 - 1851)
Dateearly 19th-mid 19th Century
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensionspainting (painting on stretcher) H 25 1/4 in x W 30 in (64.1 cm x 76.2 cm )
 frame H 28 1/4 in x W 33 1/4 in x D 2 1/2 in (71.8 cm x 84.5 cm x 6.4 cm )
Physical DescriptionA painting of the ship, USS PHILADELPHIA. It depicts an angled view of a three-masted ship at full sail in rough waters with heavy waves. The artist's signature is in the lower right corner: Thomas Birch.

The painting is framed in a 3" black and gold wood frame. A brass plaque attached to the bottom has an inscription that reads: U.S.S. PHILADELPHIA / THOMAS BIRCH.
Historical NoteThough this painting identifies the ship depicted as the USS PHILADELPHIA (1799), there has been some question as to whether the ship shown is actually a merchant ship rather than a naval vessel.
Additional Details
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)
Not on view
Related Links