Artwork
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin is an oil painting. It dates from 1829 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This oil on wood panel depicts Benjamin Franklin, a prominent figure in American history.
- Accession no.
- 83.2.234
- Credit line
- Gift of William H. Huntington, 1883
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Benjamin Franklin, an American Founding Father, as the primary subject, rendered in a frontal pose against a neutral background.
The portrait depicts Benjamin Franklin, an American Founding Father, as the primary subject, rendered in a frontal pose against a neutral background. The work belongs to the portrait genre, emphasizing Franklin’s visage as the central focus. The oil-on-panel medium and modest dimensions (14.3 × 8.9 cm) align with small-scale, intimate likenesses common in early 19th-century American portraiture.
The depiction of Franklin, a symbol of Enlightenment ideals and American independence, reflects the period’s reverence for revolutionary figures. As a posthumous representation created decades after Franklin’s death (1790), the painting likely served commemorative purposes, preserving his legacy for posterity.
Technique & Style
Created in 1829, this portrait of Benjamin Franklin is executed in oil paint on a wood panel support. The work is attributed to an unknown artist and is classified within the genre of portraiture. Physically, the painting measures approximately 14.3 units in height and 8.9 units in width, indicating a relatively small scale.
As an oil-on-panel piece from the early nineteenth century, it reflects the traditional materials and handling techniques common to American portraiture of that era. The surface depicts the subject as a man, consistent with the formal conventions of the period.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of Benjamin Franklin, an oil on wood panel measuring 14.3 × 8.9 cm, was created in 1829 by an unidentified artist. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as accession number 83.2.234 and displayed within The American Wing. The work has remained in the museum’s custody since its acquisition, forming part of the museum’s holdings of early American portraiture.
Its subject, Benjamin Franklin, is rendered in a conventional portrait style, and the painting is recorded in both the museum’s internal catalogue and Wikidata entries.
Legacy
The 1829 oil on wood portrait of Benjamin Franklin, attributed to an anonymous painter, is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing collection;. Its inclusion in the museum’s principal American art display underscores its significance within early American portraiture and has made it a reference point for scholars examining the visual construction of Franklin’s public image. As one of the few contemporary depictions of the statesman by an unidentified artist, the work informs studies of how Franklin’s likeness was disseminated in the early Republic, contributing to his enduring legacy in American cultural memory.
Overview
This oil on wood panel depicts Benjamin Franklin, a prominent figure in American history. The subject is shown wearing round spectacles and a fur-collared garment, engaging the viewer directly with a calm expression. Despite his composed demeanor, his hair appears somewhat disheveled.
The work resides within the American Wing, offering a direct visual encounter with one of the nation's founders.
Artist & collection
