Thursday, January 21, 2021

Portrait of Ben Franklin

One of the paintings that President Biden chose for the Oval Office is a portrait of Benjamin Franklin by Joseph Siffred Duplessis. 


Franklin posed for the artist in France. Various versions of the portrait exist, including one in pastel.

The White House has its own collection of art, but the curators there are able to borrow paintings from any museum in the Smithonian collection. This one appears to be the one from the National Portrait Gallery. This image of Franklin also appears on the hundred dollar bill. 

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2 comments:

  1. scottTJanuary 21, 2021 at 6:43 PM

    If it were me, I'd have a ball borrowing art to fill the offices! I'd feel like a kid in a candy store. I'd bore all the visiting dignitaries talking about the paintings.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Susan KrzywickiJanuary 21, 2021 at 7:18 PM

    And, may the coming administration's path be as plain and beautiful gray as the cloth of Franklin's coat. Smooth and only slightly wrinkled.

    ReplyDelete

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