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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.
The Dellaware and Potomac Struck by a White Squall, in the Gulf of Lyons
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

The Dellaware and Potomac Struck by a White Squall, in the Gulf of Lyons

Artifact IDMO 1957.46
Object Type Painting
Artist (American, 1810 - 1860)
Dateca. 1835
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensionsframe H 30 3/4 in x W 38 in (78.1 cm x 96.5 cm )
 painting (painting on stretcher) H 29 1/2 in x W 36 1/4 in (74.9 cm x 92.1 cm )
Physical DescriptionA painting of the ship of the line, USS DELAWARE, and the frigate, USS POTOMAC, in a squall. It depicts the two ships in rough waters against a darkened sky. The three-masted DELAWARE is shown angled in the foreground, sails partially unfurled, the front half of the ship crashing through a large wave. Sailors are seen on the deck assisting with the sails. In the left background, the three-masted POTOMAC is seen riding the waves with the majority of the sails furled. The full, hand-painted title of the painting is centered below the image and reads: The Dellaware and Potomac, Struck by a White Squall, in the GULF of LYONS. a Faithfull Picture Painted by an eye witness. The painting is signed by the artist in the lower right corner below the image: J.G. Evans. / Paint.


The painting is framed in a 2¾" gilt wood frame with teal-colored center trim.
Historical NoteFranklin Roosevelt was an avid, lifelong collector of prints, engravings, and paintings illustrating the history of the United States Navy. He may have purchased this painting of the USS DELAWARE (1820) and USS POTOMAC (1822) for $32.50 at the Tuckerman, Stewart, et al sale at the American Art Association, New York, New York in 1921.

The artist, James Guy Evans, was a marine and historical painter that toured with the U.S. Navy’s Mediterranean Squadron from 1835-1838. This painting is one of eleven paintings of the DELAWARE done by Evans, four of which show the vessel in the same squall.
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 StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view
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