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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.
Figurehead of Andrew Jackson
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Figurehead of Andrew Jackson

Artifact IDMO 1944.105.1.1
Object Type Painting
Artist
Dateca. 1930s
Mediumpaper, watercolor, ink
Dimensionsmat (mat folder closed) H 20 in x W 16 in (50.8 cm x 40.6 cm )
 mat (mat folder open) H 20 in x W 32 1/8 in (50.8 cm x 81.6 cm )
 folder (series portfolio) H 21 1/8 in x W 17 1/8 in x D 1 in (53.7 cm x 43.5 cm x 2.5 cm )
Physical Descriptiona) An original watercolor painting of a full-length ship's carved figurehead of Andrew Jackson. The painting is matted within a paper folder. On the page opposite the painting is information text regarding the figurehead.

b) A blue series portfolio for paintings MO 1944.105.1.1-3. Inside the cover of the portfolio has been pasted an information page.
Historical NoteThis watercolor was created for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Index of American Design. It depicts a figurehead from the frigate USS CONSTITUTION. The CONSTITUTION has had several figureheads during its existence. The watercolor is based on an original painting by Elizabeth Fairchild, who was inspired by an 1850s-era figurehead (the third Andrew Jackson figurehead made for the ship).

The painting is part of a collection (MO 1944.05.1.1-6) of original watercolor paintings by WPA Index of American Design artists. The paintings are stored in a pair of portfolios made by the Milwaukee Handicraft Project, sponsored by the Milwaukee County and Milwaukee State Teachers College, Wisconsin Art Project, Federal Art Project, Works Progress Administration. The portfolios and paintings were presented to President Roosevelt by the artists of the Index of American Design.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThe item was sent by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the FDR Library on February 2, 1944. It was formally donated to the FDR Library in 1947 through FDR's Estate.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesArtifacts Relating to the New Deal (National Archives Identifier 750981)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view