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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
American Navy Steam Frigate Painting
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

American Navy Steam Frigate Painting

Artifact IDMO 1974.314
Object Type Painting
Artist
Dateca. 1848-1850
Mediumgouache on canvas
Dimensionsframe H 21 in x W 26 5/8 in x D 1 1/2 in (53.3 cm x 67.6 cm x 3.8 cm )
Physical DescriptionA painting of an unidentified American Navy steam frigate. It depicts a side view of the three-masted ship, with a single smokestack, at full sail on relatively calm open waters against a pink and blue sky. The ship flies an American flag at the stern. A number of figures can be seen on the deck, and the black and white hull has fifteen gunports, eight with visible guns. The vessel may be in Asian waters judging by a three-masted vessel, with high stern, in the right background. There are several other sailing ships seen in the far distance. Though the painting is unsigned and undated, the American flag has thirty stars indicating the painting was likely done between 1848 and 1850.

The painting is glazed and framed in a 2" gilt wood frame.
Historical NoteFranklin Roosevelt displayed this painting directly behind his desk in his private study in the White House residence. The ship represented in the painting was erroneously originally thought to be the USS NIAGARA (1855).
Additional Details
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