Two long-lost French paintings gifted to a Virginia library in 1949 have been rediscovered in a closet after decades of obscurity. The artworks, part of the historic Merci Train sent by a grateful French nation after World War II, were recently found at the Smithfield branch of the Blackwater Regional Library system. Library staff discovered the pieces while clearing out storage areas, completely unaware of their historical significance. The paintings are now slated for a new exhibition at the Virginia War Museum as part of the statewide VA250 initiative celebrating America's 250th anniversary. This discovery adds important pieces to the story of post-war Franco-American friendship.
The Merci Train represents one of the most heartfelt gestures of international gratitude in modern history. In 1947, American journalist Drew Pearson proposed the Friendship Train, which collected over 700 boxcars of food and supplies worth $40 million for starving European populations. France responded in 1949 by sending 49 boxcars filled with gifts, one for each state plus a shared car for Washington, D.C., and Hawaii. Each 40/8 car, so named for its capacity to carry 40 soldiers or eight horses, contained items representing French culture and appreciation. Virginia's car traveled through several cities before finding its permanent home at the Virginia War Museum in Newport News.
The first recovered painting is a 1945 oil work by French artist Jeanne Louise Jacoutot-Mahudez depicting a laughing man holding a wine glass. Painted in the style of Dutch master Frans Hals, the piece bears a touching inscription on its backing that translates to, "To an American friend in memory of the friendship that unites our two countries." Jacoutot-Mahudez, born in 1876, was a respected drawing teacher who exhibited at the prestigious Paris Salon, earning a gold medal in 1927. Her work captures the celebratory spirit of French culture that the Merci Train aimed to share with American communities.
The second piece is an undated, unsigned miniature porcelain painting of Napoleon II, the son of Napoleon Bonaparte, housed in an elegant shadow box. Napoleon II, born in 1811 and forced to abdicate as a child, died at age 21 in 1832. The delicate portrait represents France's complex historical narrative and its journey from monarchy to republic. Newport News City Historian Mary Kayaselcuk has spent years tracking down Virginia's scattered Merci Train gifts, using historical newspaper archives to locate missing items. Her search led her to a 1949 edition of The Smithfield Times, which documented the library's original receipt of these treasures.
The relationship between France and the United States stretches back to America's founding, making these paintings particularly meaningful for the VA250 commemoration. France became America's oldest ally in 1776 when the Marquis de Lafayette provided crucial military and financial support during the Revolutionary War. Lafayette's assistance at Yorktown proved decisive in securing American independence, while America's revolution later inspired French revolutionary ideals. The friendship was symbolically cemented on July 4, 1884, when France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States, creating an enduring icon of shared democratic values.
The Virginia War Museum will open its comprehensive Merci Train exhibition on October 10, titled "The Merci Train: A Story of Generosity and Gratitude." The show will reunite as many of Virginia's 1949 gifts as possible, telling the story of this remarkable exchange. Library Branch Manager April Watkins expressed excitement about the paintings finding a proper home where they can be appreciated by the public. The discovery demonstrates how local institutions often unknowingly safeguard important historical artifacts. As Virginia celebrates its central role in America's founding, these paintings will help illuminate the international friendships that have shaped the nation's history.
