Medallion 1824

This bronze medallion was made by Christian Gobrecht in 1824, and commemorates the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania. The image of Benjamin Franklin in profile, rendered in raised relief, creates meaning through its direct reference to the man whose legacy the institute sought to embody. Consider the era in which this was made. What could be called the ‘age of improvement’ was a time when learned societies and institutions played an important role in the social and intellectual life of both Europe and the United States. Here in the young American republic, the creation of such institutions reflected a broader desire for national improvement and the cultivation of useful knowledge. Understanding this historical context, enriched by resources such as period documents and institutional records, allows us to interpret this medallion not just as a portrait, but as a symbol of early 19th-century aspirations for progress.