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Russian Portraitist and the President of the United States: How The Unfinished Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt Was Written
Russian Portraitist and the President of the United States: How The Unfinished Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt Was Written

Video: Russian Portraitist and the President of the United States: How The Unfinished Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt Was Written

Video: Russian Portraitist and the President of the United States: How The Unfinished Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt Was Written
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Elizaveta Shumatova was a Russian-American artist who created numerous portraits of influential American and European figures throughout the 20th century. But she is best known for painting an unfinished portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Why couldn't she finish the job?

"Unfinished Portrait" is a painting by Elizaveta Nikolaevna Shumatova, in which she portrayed the former President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt. The artist was commissioned to paint a portrait of the President and she began her work at about noon on April 12, 1945. During lunch, Roosevelt complained of a headache and subsequently … collapsed into a chair. As it turned out later, the former US president suffered a stroke (cerebral hemorrhage) and died on the same day.

The background to creating a portrait

Elizaveta Nikolaevna Shumatova (née Avinova) was born on October 6, 1888 into an aristocratic family in Kharkov. She was a Russian-American artist who became famous for one historical work, An Unfinished Portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The artist's brother, Andrei Avinov, was an outstanding entomologist and artist. In 1917, Elizaveta Shumatova went with her husband Lev Shumatov to the United States (her husband is a member of the Russian Procurement Commission). After the October Revolution, they decided to stay there forever. The family settled in Long Island. In the absence of a professional art education, the extraordinary talent and hard work of Elizaveta Shumatova soon led her to create an individual style, thanks to which her paintings became instantly recognizable.

Roosevelt's works
Roosevelt's works

Shumatova's extraordinary artistic gift in portraiture has attracted the attention of distinguished and famous families in America, Great Britain and Europe. Among her customers were the family of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, members of the Frick families, the well-known family of Dupont, Mellon, Woodruff and Firestone.

In 1937, she met Lucy Page Mercer-Rutherford, a longtime friend (and according to some sources, mistress) of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Lucy was 22 years old, a dark-haired, graceful and attractive young lady - this is how James saw her in 1913. Besides the fact that this girl was very pretty, she was smart and well educated. In 1943, Lucy convinced Roosevelt to invite Shumatova to paint his portrait. Rutherford addressed her friend as follows: “You really should paint a portrait of the president. He has such a wonderful face! But today there are no pictures that would reflect the true character of the president. I think you could create a wonderful portrait. If we organize a process, would you agree to write? Although Shumatova did not support the progressive views of the president, she agreed to paint a portrait. In the end, she spent three days doing it and was won over by Roosevelt's charisma and wit. Shumatova accepted this proposal, saying that she could not reject the president's confidence. Roosevelt himself was so impressed by her talent that he immediately asked to paint another life-size portrait of him, which will be exhibited at the White House.

Roosevelt and Lucy Mercer-Rutherford
Roosevelt and Lucy Mercer-Rutherford

The process of creating a portrait

The first session of work took place on April 9, 1945. Shumatova, along with her assistant, photographer Robbins, arrived in Warm Springs. On this day, they discussed the nature of the portrait and a series of photographic sketches performed by Robbins. The artist invited the president to wear a red bow tie for the next session: she wanted the portrait to be a little red. The President agreed.

The second session was scheduled for April 12th. Elizaveta Shumatova began work on the portrait of the President at about noon. On this day, she began working on a watercolor portrait, occasionally talking to the president to make the face in the portrait livelier. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the footman began to set the table. The President looked at the artist and said: "We have 15 minutes left to work." These words were the last that Mrs. Shumatova heard from the president."

Roosevelt was served lunch when he said, "I have very bad pain in the back of my head." After these words, he collapsed into a chair unconscious. The President was taken to his bedroom and a doctor was immediately called. The treating cardiologist, Dr. Howard Brunn, diagnosed a massive cerebral hemorrhage (stroke). Roosevelt never regained consciousness and died at 3:35 pm the same day. Shumatova never completed the portrait. The president's body was transported by train to Washington, DC, and then to his estate in Hyde Park for burial. Thousands of mourners lined up to say goodbye to Roosevelt.

Photo 11 April 45th and unfinished portrait
Photo 11 April 45th and unfinished portrait

Second portrait

Later, Shumatova decided to finish the unfinished portrait and paint a new work. They are absolutely identical, with the exception of one difference: the president's tie is red in the original painting, and blue in the second. All other elements are completely the same. Both works hang on the walls of Roosevelt's former estate in Warm Springs, Georgia, known as the Little White House.

How did Shumatova deserve such confidence of the president and why did the Russian portraitist, although very famous, enter Roosevelt's chambers? This will remain a mystery to everyone. Perhaps the friendship with Lucy Mercer-Rutherford affected. Or maybe the president was fascinated by the artistic talent of the portraitist.

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