Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9270
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Portrait of Benjamin Franklin
Date
1782
Sitter
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790, American) , Politician
Creator
Joseph Wright (1756 - 1793, American) , Painter
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (painting): 755mm
width (painting): 640mm
width (painting): 640mm
Subject
Description
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin seated at half-length, his upper body angled to the viewer’s right, gazing forward. He has natural grey shoulder-length hair, thinning at the forehead. Franklin wears a red coat and waistcoat, the latter half unbuttoned, showing a white shirt and neck-cloth. A gilded chair is just visible behind.
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), natural philosopher, writer, and revolutionary politician in America, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1756. He was awarded the Society's Copley Medal in 1753 'on account of his curious experiments and observations on electricity'.
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), natural philosopher, writer, and revolutionary politician in America, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1756. He was awarded the Society's Copley Medal in 1753 'on account of his curious experiments and observations on electricity'.
Transcription
BENJ. FRANKLIN. LL.D.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, F.R.S. (1706-90) by JOSEPH WRIGHT
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, F.R.S. (1706-90) by JOSEPH WRIGHT
Object history
Presented by Caleb Whitefoord FRS, 1790.
The presentation is noted in the annual Philosophical Transactions list of gifts [“Presents made to the Royal Society from November 1790 to June 1791; with the names of the donors”, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol.81 pt.1 1791, p.424. ] and in the Journal Books meeting of the Royal Society, for 9 December 1790. [Royal Society Journal Book Original, JBO/34 p.222].
The presentation is noted in the annual Philosophical Transactions list of gifts [“Presents made to the Royal Society from November 1790 to June 1791; with the names of the donors”, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol.81 pt.1 1791, p.424. ] and in the Journal Books meeting of the Royal Society, for 9 December 1790. [Royal Society Journal Book Original, JBO/34 p.222].
Associated place