Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 1777

Editor: This terracotta piece, titled "Benjamin Franklin," is by Giovanni Battista Nini. I am struck by how classical it feels, almost Roman, yet it depicts an American figure. What do you see in this work? Curator: I see a portrait deeply embedded in the politics of representation. Franklin, the "American," is framed within a European artistic tradition, a visual negotiation of identity and power. Nini’s work asks us: who gets to define "American," and through what lens? Editor: So, it's about the tension between European artistic conventions and the burgeoning American identity? Curator: Precisely. How does crafting Franklin in terracotta, a material often associated with classical sculpture, shape our understanding of him and the ideals he represents? It's about understanding the colonial gaze, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: That really changes how I see it. Thanks! Curator: It has been my pleasure.