His Excellency B. Franklin L.L.D. F.R.S. President of Pennsylvania, & Late Minister of the United States of America at the Court of France

Date1787

Designer & engraver Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827)

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumMezzotint with line engraving

DimensionsH: 6 1/8"; W: 5 1/8"; Framed: 10 1/4" x 8".

Credit LineGift of the John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, Fund, Inc., through the generosity and interest of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, and members of the family.

Object number1979-175

DescriptionTitle in oval around portrait reads: "HIS EXCELLENCY B. FRANKLIN L. L. D. F. R. S. PRESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND MINISTER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AT THE COURT OF FRANCE."
Inscription below image reads: "C. W. Peale pinct et Fecit 1787."
Label TextCharles Willson Peale published this small mezzotint engraving of Benjamin Franklin modeled after a portrait he painted of the statesman in 1785 (now in the collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts." In 1787, Peale, endeavored to reproduce several of his portraits of new national heroes. He wrote to Washington, "Another Labour which I have lately undertaken I hope will give you pleasure. I mean the making of prints in Mezzotinto from my portraits of Illustrious Personages." These engravings were based on portraits of newly minted American icons such as Washington and Franklin. Though the project was a financial loss for Peale, he succeeded in printing a small number of engraved portraits of Franklin, Lafayette, Reverend Joseph Pilmore, and Washington.