Sheet from "Iconographie Instructive" with portrait of Benjamin Franklin 1822 - 1832

Curator: What a striking document! This is a sheet from "Iconographie Instructive" by Adrien Jarry de Mancy, dating from the period of 1822 to 1832. The lithograph on paper presents a portrait of Benjamin Franklin nestled amongst historical and biographical text. Editor: My first impression is that it feels…serious. The rigid columns of text flanking Franklin’s likeness, almost like guards, suggest reverence and the weight of history. Very proper, very…French academic. Curator: Indeed. The layout, typical of academic prints of the time, meticulously arranges information around the central figure. Semiotically, Franklin’s portrait, rendered in precise detail, anchors the sheet, serving as the primary signifier of enlightenment ideals. Notice the neoclassicist lines in the portrait, very precise. Editor: The face has so much character though. Those little wrinkles around the eyes, and that almost sly expression. There’s a hint of mischief, a suggestion that Franklin was more than just a Founding Father, more than a symbol. He’s a person who liked a good joke, or a witty repartee. It feels at odds with all this very strict typesetting. Curator: An interesting observation. The contrast perhaps highlights the complexities of the man, balancing the gravitas of his public persona with his personal wit. The lithographic technique allows for both crisp text and nuanced shading in the portrait, creating this very duality you pointed out. The paper itself seems to have aged uniformly, giving it a wonderful creamy tone. Editor: It feels almost like finding a pressed flower inside a very serious book. A bit of hidden beauty tucked away in history. You almost feel compelled to pull out the joke Franklin would have told! Curator: It serves as a fascinating intersection of art, history, and biography. De Mancy’s lithograph not only portrays Franklin but also embodies the historical and cultural context of its creation. Editor: Ultimately, it reminds us that even figures enshrined in history were living, breathing people, full of contradictions and life. Quite lovely.