This is a a rare original painting by Daniel MacMorris (1893-1981).

It was created by MacMorris in the early 1930s for a contest held by the New York State Board of Public Works to create a mural for the Roosevelt Memorial wing at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

MacMorris had this to say about the contest:

"Mr. Blashfield did recommend to the New York State Board of Public Works in Albany that I be invited to participate in a contest to decorate the Roosevelt Memorial wing which had just been added to the Museum of Natural History at 87th and Eight Avenue in New York, right opposite Central Park. I did get into the contest along with 10 other mural painters and spent three months and a great deal of money on the project. I hired extra craftsmen to help me with getting up the sketches, as I needed two sets for the competition.

Up to the very last minute I was sure that I had the job. It meant thousands of dollars to me. But I was awarded first honourable mention.

Eugene Savage, a Yale University professor and the only man I was afraid would get it, told me afterwards that I was the only one he was afraid might get it. Neither of us got the job as it turned into a political thing, going to a man who had been close to the board for a long time.

I still have my sketches, they cost too much to throw away." Source: MacMorris: 60 Years; pgs. 69-70.

Medium: oil on canvas laid on board

Signed lower right

32 x 12 inches

Subject: a patriotic depiction of President Theodore Roosevelt flanked by military men and a Boy Scout (he was an early proponent of the Boy Scouts in America), as well as "Liberty" maidens and billowing flags in the background.

Condition: Some wear. Main central image remains in good condition, with wear (creasing, paint loss) most noticeable in lower right quadrant. Wear to verso board, but not going through to canvas