Creator |
Lazzarini, Francesco, d. ca. 1808. |
Title |
Benjamin Franklin. |
Date |
Ca. 1791 |
Physical Description |
Carrara marble ; 98 x 34 x 23 inches. |
Is referenced by |
Sellers, Charles Coleman. Benjamin Franklin in Portraiture. New Haven: Yale University, 1962, p. 203-205. |
|
Soltis, Carol E. “Highlights from the Collection of Paintings and Sculpture,” Magazine Antiques 70 (2) (2006): p. 80-81. |
Notes |
Larger-than-life statue of Franklin originally placed in a niche over the entrance to Library Hall at Fifth Street in 1792. |
|
Universal Asylum and Columbian Magazine, April 11, 1792, p. 284: "The statue of Dr. Franklin was last Saturday fixed in its
niche over the front door of the new library in fifth-street----Francois Lazzarini is the sculptor, and Carrara the name of
the place where it was executed. If the intrinsic merit of this master-piece of art did not speak its value, the name of the
artist, where he is known, would evince it. Here perhaps price may give the best idea of its worth. We have heard that it
cost above 500 guineas.----The statue of Dr. Franklin is a full length figure, erect, clad with a Roman toga--the position
easy and graceful--in the right hand is a scepter reversed, the elbow resting on books placed on a pedestal--the left hand,
a little extended, holds a scroll. This elegant piece of sculpture is executed in the finest white marble, and is the donation
of William Bingham esq. of this city, to the library-company."
|
|
Several newspapers reported the arrival of the statue. See Object file for the list. |
|
Gift of William Bingham, 1792. |
|
LCP Minutes vol. 3, various entries from Aug. 6, 1789-May 3, 1792. See Object file for transcriptions. |
Subject |
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 -- Portraits. |
Genre |
Sculpture. |
Location |
OBJ 596 |
Accession number |
OBJ 596 |