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Primary sourcePainting1778

The Genius of Franklin

Marguerite Gérard · 1778

An allegorical print celebrating Franklin, showing his fame among the French public during his time in Paris.

This allegorical print celebrates Franklin's fame in France, showing how he was mythologized as a hero of science and liberty.

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Engraving in brown-sepia tones showing an allegorical scene: a seated bearded man in a draped robe at center, a winged figure with a shield above him, a helmeted warrior figure at left, a crowned female figure seated beside him at right, and reclining figures in clouds below. Lightning bolts appear in the sky.
Marguerite Gérard, after Fragonard, The Genius of Franklin, 1778. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this source

What it is

This is an etching by Marguerite Gérard, made after a design by Fragonard in 1778, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It shows an allegorical scene with symbolic figures rather than a realistic portrait.

Why it matters

The print illustrates a motto praising Franklin for wresting lightning from the sky and the scepter from tyrants, linking his scientific discoveries to his political role against monarchy. It shows how Franklin became a celebrity figure in France, admired as both a scientist and a champion of liberty.

Look closer

  • What do the lightning bolts and the crowned figure suggest about how the artist wanted viewers to see Franklin?
  • Why might French artists have wanted to celebrate an American figure this way?
  • What does this image leave out about who Franklin really was?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Benjamin Franklin on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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