Profile Bust of Benjamin Franklin

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of 18th-century portraiture withProfile Bust of Benjamin Franklin by Patience Wright, created around 1775. This intimate wax relief captures the profile of the iconic Founding Father, statesman, inventor at a pivotal moment—just as the American Revolution ignited. Wright, first professional sculptor and a self-taught "wax wizard," gained fame for her lifelike modeling, which bridged fine art and popular commemoration during turbulent times. Crafted from wax, glass, wood, and paper this petite bust (just over 6 inches tall) exemplifies the era's wax portrait tradition. Wax allowed for hyper-realistic details—like Franklin's distinctive furrowed brow and queued hair—that rivaled costly marble sculptures, making celebrity likenesses accessible to the public. Encased in glass for protection, it was likely displayed in homes or curiosity cabinets, blending artistry with souvenir culture. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this piece from the Glenn Tilley Morse Collection highlights Wright's transatlantic career; she worked in London, where Franklin resided as a colonial agent until 1775. It not only honors a revolutionary hero but also celebrates a trailblazing woman artist whose tactile medium brought history vividly to life.