Benjamin Franklin 1885

Dr. Charles L. Hogeboom created this relief sculpture of Benjamin Franklin. The profile emerges from a flat, neutral background. The lines are precise, delineating Franklin's features with a restrained clarity. The monochromatic palette emphasizes form and texture, inviting a focus on the material qualities of the sculpture. Here, Hogeboom engages with the visual language of Neoclassical art, a style that valued order, reason, and a return to classical forms, and used this to invoke the Enlightenment ideals associated with Franklin himself. By rendering Franklin in this way, Hogeboom uses classical artistic codes to elevate his subject. Note how the texture of the material interacts with light and shadow to create depth and volume. The interplay captures not just a likeness, but also suggests the enduring legacy of Franklin as a figure of intellect and civic virtue. Ultimately, Hogeboom prompts reflection on how we construct and commemorate historical figures through art.