American
Benjamin Franklin, late 18th century
Watercolor on wove paper, 33.7 x 28.3 cm (13 1/4 x 11 1/8 in.)
This watercolor image of Benjamin Franklin depicts his head and shoulders in a left profile. It is completed in shades of brown, tan, off-white and light pink on a medium brown background. There is a pale pink tinge to his light colored complexion and his gray hair is visible below his fur trimmed tan skullcap. His eyes and eyebrows are medium-light and he has a stern expression on his face as he stares into the distance. . He is dressed in a brown jacket and a white collared shirt with a small white tie at the neckline and small black buttons down the front.
Short Gallery
Commentary
When the United States observed the centennial of its founding in 1876, many Americans collected images of the “founding fathers” including Benjamin Franklin. Isabella was no exception, and she displayed this watercolor in the Short Gallery along side a portrait of Franklin’s friend, George Washington.