Who painted Portrait of Benjamin Franklin?

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin was painted by William Perkins Babcock in ca. 1870–80 (?).

Where can I see Portrait of Benjamin Franklin?

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of Benjamin Franklin?

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin

William Perkins Babcock , 1875

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist William Perkins Babcock. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This oil on wood panel depicts Benjamin Franklin, presented not in a formal pose but in a moment of introspection.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As a portrait, it focuses on representing the historical figure of Franklin, capturing his likeness on a wood panel.

The work depicts Benjamin Franklin, the main subject of this 1875 oil painting by William P. Babcock. As a portrait, it focuses on representing the historical figure of Franklin, capturing his likeness on a wood panel. While specific iconographic or symbolic elements are not elaborated in the available records, the work's primary purpose is a formal representation of a key American figure. It is classified within The American Wing collection.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in oil on a wooden panel, a medium typical of nineteenth-century American portraiture, and measures approximately 13.3 by 10.5 cm. The rigid wood support provides a smooth surface that the artist rendered with fine brushwork to achieve realistic facial detail. As a small-scale portrait in The American Wing, it emphasizes likeness and character within a restrained palette.

History & Provenance

The Portrait of Benjamin Franklin was created in 1875 by the American artist William P. Babcock. Executed in oil on a wood panel measuring 13.3 by 10.5 cm, it depicts Benjamin Franklin and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is classified within The American Wing. The specific commission and the chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the available records, and no accession number is provided.

Overview

This oil on wood panel depicts Benjamin Franklin, presented not in a formal pose but in a moment of introspection. Housed in the American Wing, the painting offers a subdued portrayal of the statesman, emphasizing his pensive nature rather than his public persona. The artist captures a sense of quiet contemplation, inviting viewers to consider Franklin's inner world.

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin, H. Sanford

Artist & collection

Artist

William Perkins Babcock

William Perkins Babcock painted quiet 19th-century scenes where figures gather or pause—look at *Girl with a Pink Bonnet* (1865) or the musicians in *The Quartet* (1861).