Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
58.S.56 |
Object Name |
Relief |
Title |
Relief with Portrait of Benjamin Franklin |
Artist |
Bentley, A. H. |
School |
Wedgwood |
Date |
ca. 1905 |
Description |
Relief profile portrait of a man facing his right on green jasper dip. He has a roman nose, extended chin, double chin and short wavy hair. He wears an open necked shirt and coat. White on green jasper dip. "FRANKLIN" at bottom, "WEDGWOOD/ o" on back. After c. 1780 model by William Hackwood. |
Label |
Made by the famed Wedgwood ceramics firm, this jasperware medallion was marketed as the "Classic Franklin." The original artist was probably William Hackwood, a leading modeller who worked for the company for 63 years. Josiah Wedgwood, the firm's founder, described Hackwood as "Ingenious." In keeping with Wedgwood's strong support of the American Revolution, the company produced at least eight portraits of Franklin in the late 18th century. This portrait may be a loose adaptation of Isaac Gosset's 1766 wax profile in the APS collection (60.S.1). Wedgwood mentioned in a 1777 letter to his business partner that he was considering making a new Franklin image, without the "formidable wig and stiff English coat and waistcoat" seen in the Gosset portrait. 18th century portraits were often reissued in the 20th century by the Wedgwood company. |
Medium |
Ceramic jasperware |
Dimensions |
H-15 W-11.5 D-1.75 inches |
Dimension Details |
Framed |
Credit line |
American Philosophical Society. Gift of Sir George Darwin, 1906. |
Search Terms |
18th century eighteenth century 20th century twentieth century sculpture Founding Father profile portrait |