Benjamin Franklin

Metadata

Title

Benjamin Franklin

Creator

Jean Antoine Houdon, after an original from 1778

Description

Plaster portrait bust of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) by Jean Antoine Houdon, after an original from 1778. Benjamin Franklin, American Founding Father, writer, printer, postmaster, scientist, inventor, statesman, and diplomat, known for his wit and humor, is depicted here with shoulder-length hair and a plain suit coat, buttoned vest and simple cravat.

French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon was well known for portrait busts of public figures of the late 18th century. Houdon sculpted Benjamin Franklin’s likeness during Franklin’s tenure as American minister to France from 1776 to 1785. While only two marble versions of the bust are known to exist (one at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the other at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), Houdon also produced plaster versions such as this one in response to the public’s fascination with the popular American statesman.

Extent

24.0" H

Medium

Plaster, modern white paint

Provenance

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Trumpv

Collection

General Collection, Museum Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Identifier

1993.M05.01

Rights

http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html