http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/franklin/bfpeale.htm
Benjamin
Franklin, a great father to our country. The picture I choose was the one
painted while Franklin lie in his death bed. It represents his scientific
discoveries as well as his opinion about them. While reading through the “Franklin
and his Friends” web site I discovered more about Franklin than just the guy
behind electricity.
While giving tours of the museum I
request that the tour guides include more than just the type of painting and
that this is Benjamin Franklin. I
want them to discuss the development of society that his inventions had. Not
only did the lightning rods protect houses but it also gave people more comfort
and stability. They would not have to worry as much about their homes when a
storm came.
The
painting also show cases Franklin’s opinions of his own inventions. According
to the site, Benjamin was not a fan of the lightning rods with the knobs at the
top. The artist used great detail showing him holding a rod with a pointed rod
and not one with a knob on it.
There are so many hidden details in
a painting that people would not expect. If the visitors took one thing from
this painting it should be to look at all the fine print and think about what
the mean on a larger scale. Most people think Benjamin Franklin was a
president. Well, he was not but he was a leader of science and politics. He
developed so much more than we could ever imagine with out studying it further
and just maybe, that’s what the observers will do.
One of the first things that sticks out to me about this portrait is the fact that it was painted while Franklin was on his death bed. In the portrait, Franklin doesn't look like someone who is about to die so that fact is very interesting. I'm also intrigued by the details of the portrait that you mentioned. The type of lighting rods that Franklin liked was unknown to me before this.
ReplyDeleteI am just amused that we both chose Benjamin Franklin as our portraits though at different points in his career. I find this painting really illustrates a much more stern and austere Franklin than my own which is more contemplative.
ReplyDeletei find the bit about the lightening rod actually quite interesting. i know many of us would probably pay little mind so something like a knob on top when we know there is a risk of electrocution, but then again we are not scientist in the 18th C. though i do like that you make it a point to inform your visitors that he was not one of our presidents, i think many have fallen into this belief due to his portrait appearing on our money.
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