Benjamin Franklin 1776 - 1883

Emile Dupont-Zipcy painted this portrait of Benjamin Franklin, probably in France, sometime in the mid-19th century, on porcelain. By the mid-19th century, Benjamin Franklin had become an iconic figure in both America and France, representing Enlightenment ideals, revolutionary spirit, and American ingenuity. The image of Franklin, adorned in a fur cap, evokes his time as an American envoy in France, seeking support for the American Revolution. Dupont-Zipcy's choice to portray Franklin on porcelain, a medium often associated with luxury and refinement, further elevates Franklin's status. Examining the context in which this image was created reveals much about the values that 19th century French society projected onto the figure of Benjamin Franklin. A cultural historian might explore how this image was received at the time through periodicals, exhibition reviews, and other visual depictions of Franklin.