MO 1941.3.147: George Washington. Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
George Washington and His Times Series
Artifact IDMO 1941.3.128-165
Object Type
Painting
Artist
Arthur Szyk
(Polish-American political cartoonist and book Illustrator, 1894-1951)
Date1930-1932
Mediumpaper, ink, paint (watercolor, gouache)
Dimensionsoverall (each matted) H 14 in x W 11 in (35.6 cm x 27.9 cm )
Physical DescriptionA set of 38 individual original watercolor paintings entitled, George Washington and His Times. Each of the detailed miniature paintings focuses on a person or event relating to the American Revolution. The paintings, done between 1930-1932, are signed and dated by the artist. Most of the paintings were completed in Paris, France, though several indicate they were done in Krynica, Poland.Each of the paintings is hinged in a window mat folder. The titles of the paintings are:
MO 1941.3.128: The Boston Massacre
MO 1941.3.129: Paul Revere
MO 1941.3.130: Vignette
MO 1941.3.131: The Battle of Lexington
MO 1941.3.132: The Struggle on Concord Bridge
MO 1941.3.133: Retreat of the British from Concord
MO 1941.3.134: Ticonderoga
MO 1941.3.135: The Battle of Bunker Hill
MO 1941.3.136: Nathan Hale's Last Hour
MO 1941.3.137: Fort Moultrie
MO 1941.3.138: Washington at the Battle of Long Island
MO 1941.3.139: Washington Crossing the Delaware
MO 1941.3.140: Paul Jones
MO 1941.3.141:Gustavus Cuningham
MO 1941.3.142: Lafayette
MO 1941.3.143: Rochambeau
MO 1941.3.144: George Washington
MO 1941.3.145: Martha Washington
MO 1941.3.146: Washington the Statesman
MO 1941.3.147: George Washington
MO 1941.3.148: Benjamin Franklin
MO 1941.3.149: Washington the Soldier
MO 1941.3.150: Kazimierz Pulaski
MO 1941.3.151: Steuben
MO 1941.3.152: Tadeusz Kosciuszko
MO 1941.3.153: De Kalb
MO 1941.3.154: Washington and Greene Visiting the Dying Rall After the Battle of Trenton
MO 1941.3.155: Washington at the Battle of Princeton
MO 1941.3.156: Herkimer at the Battle of Oriskany
MO 1941.3.157: John Stark at the Battle of Bennington
MO 1941.3.158: Kosciuszko at Bemis Heights
MO 1941.3.159: Surrender of Burgoyne
MO 1941.3.160: Valley Forge
MO 1941.3.161: Sullivan at Newtown
MO 1941.3.162: Washington and Lafayette at Brandywine
MO 1941.3.163: Washington and Lee at Monmouth
MO 1941.3.164: Death of Pulaski at Savannah
MO 1941.3.165: The Surrender of Cornwallis
Historical NotePolish artist Arthur Syzk created this series for Max Jaffe of Vienna to mark the 1932 bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. The paintings were exhibited at the French Exposition in Paris. In 1935, Polish President Ignacy Mościcki purchased the set 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
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 SeriesPrints and Paintings (National Archives Identifier 778817)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view
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