Franklin Images and Artifacts

The APS has a peculiar affinity for its founder, Benjamin Franklin, who did so much to shape the Society and its intellectual pursuits. In addition to housing over half of Franklin's surviving papers and a substantial percentage of his personal library, the APS has been active in collecting graphic and literary materials about Franklin for over 200 years.

Please see our rights and reproductions page for complete information concerning requests for reproductions or publication.


The following list is comprised of a highly selective representation of images of Franklin, along with several items owned by or otherwise associated with him. Select a category to view the images.

Portraits and paintings
Full-sized painted portraits of Franklin, generally in oil
Miniature portraits
Miniature portraits on various substrates
Sketches and original artwork
Pencil, pen and ink, and pastel drawings of Franklin
Engravings and prints: portraits
Engraved and printed portraits of Franklin.
Engravings and prints: scenes
Engravings and prints depicting Franklin engaged in various activities.
Manuscripts
Manuscript letters to or from Franklin
Medallions and plaques
Medallions, medals, and plaques.
Sculptures
Statues, statuettes, and figurines composed of various materials
Printed works
Illustrations from works written by or about or printed by Franklin
Realia
Objects of various sorts actually owned or otherwise associated with Franklin
Ephemera and miscellaneous
Printed ephemera and miscellaneous objects bearing likenesses of Franklin.
Items associated with Franklin
Miscellaneous materials associated with Franklin or his relatives


Portraits and paintings

Title: Benjamin Franklin
Artist: Unidentified artist
Date: n.d.
ID #: FAP 68

Title: Benjamin Franklin in fur cap
Artist: Charles Nicholas (after Cochin)
Date: ca.1777-1780
ID #: FAP 79

Title: Benjamin Franklin
Artist: Jean Baptiste Greuze
Date: 1777
ID #: neg859

Title: Franklin Urging the Claims of the American Colonies Before Louis XVI
Artist: George Peter Alexander Healy
Date: ca.1847
ID #: FAP 82

Title: Benjamin Franklin reading at table
Artist: Charles Willson Peale (after David Martin's portrait of 1767)
Date: 1772
ID #: FAP 122

Title: Benjamin Franklin
Artist: Charles Amedee Philippe Van Loo
Date: n.d.
ID #: FAP 165

Title: Deborah Read Franklin
Artist: Benjamin Wilson (after an American portrait)
Date: ca.1758-1759
ID #: FAP 135


Miniature portraits

Title: Benjamin Franklin
Artist: Unidentified artist
Date: n.d.
ID #: FAP 186

Title: Franklin seated with pen in hand
Artist: Unidentified artist (after Mason Chamberlin portrait of 1762)
Date: n.d.
ID #: FAP 170

Title: Benjamin Franklin
Artist: Margaretta P. Cope
Date: n.d.
ID #: FAP 173

Title: Benjamin Franklin
Artist: Unidentified artist (after Joseph Siffred Duplessis)
Date: ca.1780-1805
ID #: FAP 175

Title: Benjamin Franklin
Artist: Unidentified artist (after Joseph Siffred Duplessis)
Date: ca.1780-1805
ID #: FAP 180


Sketches and original artwork

Title: Sketch of Franklin after Caffieri bust through print by Holloway
Artist: Unidentified artist
Date: n.d.
ID #: RF F85 ca an (a) - [xx11]

Title: Chalk portr. on tinted paper of Franklin after unlocated Houdon bust
Artist: Jean Jacques François Le Barbier
Date: n.d.
ID #: neg353

Title: Profile sketch of Franklin on fabric (in I. Bianchi to Abbé de la Roche)
Artist: I. Bianchi
Date: n.d.
ID #: B F85ba - [xx6]

Title: Sketch of Franklin
Artist: de Meaux
Date: n.d.
ID #: FAP 194

Title: Sketch of garden at Passy, March 27, 1782
Artist: Benjamin Franklin
Date: 1782
ID #: neg1143

Title: Sketch of Franklin and a lady
Artist: Charles Willson Peale
Date: n.d.
ID #: neg822.1

Title: Sketch of Franklin and a lady
Artist: Charles Willson Peale
Date: n.d.
ID #: neg822.2

Title: Pencil sketch of Franklin after the Caffieri bust
Artist: Benjamin West
Date: ca.1790
ID #: FAP 89

 

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