Portrait of Benjamin Franklin

Art Historical Context

This engraving captures Benjamin Franklin in a dignified pose, based on a celebrated portrait by the French artist Joseph Siffred Duplessis. Created between 1780 and 1820 as an engraving on chine collé, the print allowed Franklin’s image to reach a broad audience during a pivotal era of American and European history. Duplessis, known for his refined neoclassical portraits, depicted Franklin during his years as a diplomat in France, where the statesman’s distinctive fur cap and thoughtful expression became iconic symbols of Enlightenment ideals and revolutionary spirit. The choice of engraving as the medium underscores the work’s role in disseminating Franklin’s likeness across continents. Chine collé technique, which involves adhering a thin sheet of fine paper to a heavier support, enabled delicate tonal effects and fine detail that enhanced the portrait’s intimate yet authoritative quality. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this example entered the collection in 1883 as a gift from William Henry Huntington, preserving a visual record of Franklin’s enduring legacy as both scientist and founding father.

About the Artist

Benjamin Franklin|Joseph Siffred Duplessis (American|French) · 1706 |1725 –1790 |1802

American, 1706–1790|French, Carpentras 1725–1802 Versailles