Portrait of Benjamin Franklin (Wright - Royal Society), 1782
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  Photo courtesy of The Royal Society |
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France
Joseph Wright (Attributed) Oil on canvas; H. 30 in. (76.2 cm), W. 25 in. (63.5 cm) The Royal Society (London) 
Two portraits of Franklin by the French artist Duplessis have provided the source for countless images of Franklin done during his lifetime and later. Franklin suggested that artists copy from them, to obviate the need for sittings.
This portrait, though not painted from live sittings, is associated closely with Franklin. The young American artist Joseph Wright painted it for Caleb Whitefoord, one of the two British negotiators of the peace after the American Revolution. Whitefoord, a friend of Franklin's and former neighbor from his London years, gave the portrait to the Royal Society, of which both he and Franklin were members.
An image can be found here. Then click About the Society, Library & Archives, Search Archive catalogue for p/0046. |
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