Artwork
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), after a Painting by Greuze of 1777
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), after a Painting by Greuze of 1777 is an ivory painting by Charles Paul Jérôme de Bréa. It dates from 1789 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The miniature portrays Benjamin Franklin, the American polymath and statesman, rendered as a man of the Enlightenment.
The miniature portrays Benjamin Franklin, the American polymath and statesman, rendered as a man of the Enlightenment. Created in 1777 by Charles Paul Jérôme de Bréa after a painting by Greuze, the ivory work captures Franklin’s likeness in a format typical of diplomatic miniatures of the period. Its production in France and inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection underscore the transatlantic admiration for Franklin’s intellectual and political contributions.
As a depiction of a celebrated figure, the piece functions both as a personal portrait and as a visual emblem of the cultural exchange that characterized the late‑18th‑century Atlantic world.
Technique & Style
The work is a miniature painting executed on ivory, a support traditionally favored for small-scale portrait miniatures in the eighteenth century. Catalogued as a painting rather than a work on paper, it is rendered in a compact format measuring 85 by 68, a size consistent with portable keepsake portraits of the period.
The piece is recorded as a copy after Jean-Baptiste Greuze's 1777 painting of the same sitter, indicating that Bréa translated a larger oil portrait into the miniature idiom, adapting Greuze's handling to the smooth ivory surface and reduced scale characteristic of the medium.
Overview
Charles Paul Jérôme de Bréa created this miniature portrait of Benjamin Franklin in 1789. Executed in carved ivory, the small, round artwork is based on a 1777 painting by Jean-Baptiste Greuze. It captures the esteemed American statesman with a calm yet focused demeanor, rendered with delicate detail. The piece is currently part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
History & Provenance
Charles Paul Jérôme de Bréa completed this ivory miniature in 1789, twelve years after Jean-Baptiste Greuze painted the original portrait that served as its inspiration. The artwork offers a glimpse into the practice of reproducing popular images of notable figures during the period. Today, this finely crafted miniature is preserved within the extensive holdings of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Paul Jérôme de Bréa (1739–1820) was an artist, born in Rouen.
