Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
F.D.R.s Soldier in Art
Artifact IDMO 1948.92.117
Object Type
Portrait
Artist
Arthur Szyk
(Polish-American political cartoonist and book Illustrator, 1894-1951)
Date1944
Mediumpaper, pencil (graphite), paint (watercolor), ink
Dimensionsframe H 14 1/8 in x W 11 1/4 in x D 5/8 in (35.9 cm x 28.6 cm x 1.6 cm )
mat H 13 in x W 10 in (33 cm x 25.4 cm )
sheet (artwork sheet) H 7 3/8 in x W 5 3/8 in (18.7 cm x 13.7 cm )
mat H 13 in x W 10 in (33 cm x 25.4 cm )
sheet (artwork sheet) H 7 3/8 in x W 5 3/8 in (18.7 cm x 13.7 cm )
Physical DescriptionAn original pencil, watercolor, and pen and ink caricature depicting Franklin D. Roosevelt. The forward-facing head and neck portrait of FDR shows him wearing a dark suit jacket with a white shirt and dark tie. Clenched in his teeth is a cigarette holder with a lit cigarette. To the right of the cigarette tip is a large "V" [symbolizing victory] and " • • • −" ["V" in Morse Code]. Surrounding the lower portion of the portrait are six small caricature portraits of prominent World War II Axis power figures, counterclockwise from left to right: Hermann Goering, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Goebbels, Emperor Hirohito, and Hideki Tojo.
The drawing is signed and dated by the artist in black ink in the upper right corner: Arthur Szyk, N.Y. 44. In addition, the artist has inscribed the drawing, in black ink, below the portrait: TO MRS. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT / FROM ARTHUR SZYK N.Y. 1946. / F.D.R.s SOLDIER IN ART.
The drawing is matted, glazed, and framed in a 3/4" silver-painted wood frame with reddish highlights.
Historical NoteArtist Arthur Szyk gave this caricature portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt to Eleanor Roosevelt after FDR's death.The drawing is signed and dated by the artist in black ink in the upper right corner: Arthur Szyk, N.Y. 44. In addition, the artist has inscribed the drawing, in black ink, below the portrait: TO MRS. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT / FROM ARTHUR SZYK N.Y. 1946. / F.D.R.s SOLDIER IN ART.
The drawing is matted, glazed, and framed in a 3/4" silver-painted wood frame with reddish highlights.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Eleanor Roosevelt.
Credit LineGift of Eleanor Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPortraits (National Archives Identifier 778816)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.In Collection(s)
Not on view
Related Links