“Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky”
Today, a grand piece from a famed history painter.
This oil on slate painting is by the American-born history painter, Benjamin West, from circa 1816. It is titled “Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky”.
This is one of Benjamin West’s most well-known history paintings. Angels are assisting as he conducts his famous experiment. West had painted this to commemorate Franklin’s experiment of June 1752. Using a kite, Franklin proved his theory that lightning in the sky was a form of electricity.
West was actually good friends with Franklin. They had met in London and were close enough that Franklin was named as the godfather to West’s second son.
West made this piece after Franklin had died as a study for a larger painting that was never created. If you look closely, you can see that West gave Franklin slightly almond shaped eyes. This was a popular style he used at the time that was enjoyed by his patrons.
“Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky” is currently on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Pennsylvania, in the United States.
For more on Benjamin West, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
