Name/Title
Rodvogin, Harris (1897-1998) "The Constitution & The Guerrere"Entry/Object ID
2025.900.FA18253Tags
Oil PaintingDescription
This painting depicts a naval battle of consequence, during the War of 1812, between the USS Constitution and HMS Guerriere some 400 miles southeast of Nova Scotia. The latter ship was only part of a Royal Navy with a large numerical advantage, enforcing a blockade upon American merchant ships. In Rodvogin’s composition, we see the defeated English ship set afire and sinking in the foreground—its crew having surrendered and now prisoners aboard the Constitution with the American flag flying proudly. Massed clouds provide a dramatic backdrop. In this the painting is accurate, for its emotional impact proved crucial to public support for the war.Collection
Mt. Morris TB Hospital FAP CollectionDimensions
Height
19-1/2 inWidth
15-1/2 inCondition
Overall Condition
PoorDate Examined
Jul 31, 2025Notes
4+ chips on wave between ships/lower right, pencil marks by sinking ship right centerRecommendations
requires a frame and cleaningProvenance
Provenance Detail
Created under the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project (1930s–1940s), this collection of easel paintings was originally installed at the Mount Morris Tuberculosis Sanitorium in Livingston County, New York. Following the sanitorium’s closure in 1970, the artworks were abandoned and remained in storage until their rediscovery decades later. Now preserved and exhibited by the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts (GVCA), the collection is housed at the New Deal Museum in Mount Morris. Current efforts include digitization, high-resolution photography, and the creation of an online archive to ensure long-term public access and research availability.General Notes
Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
See the entry titled 'New Deal Collection Documents' for supporting documents, and general historic and research information.
