{"product_id":"benjamin-franklin-bust","title":"Benjamin Franklin Portrait Bust by Houdon, Desk Statue","description":"\u003ch2\u003eParis Wit in Stone: The Benjamin Franklin Bust\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Benjamin Franklin bust catches the sly wit of a celebrated scientist and statesman in 1770s Paris. It stands 8.5 in high in crushed stone resin, in a white or bronze finish on a black base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt follows the Paris portrait by \u003cstrong\u003eJean-Antoine Houdon\u003c\/strong\u003e. The Houdon Franklin sculpture shows a plain, humorous face. It makes a witty Franklin desk statue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Crushed stone resin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e White or bronze\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approx. 8.5 in H x 4 in W x 4 in D, including black base\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approx. 3 to 4 lbs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Franklin desk statue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFranklin Arrives in Paris\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFranklin reached Paris in 1776 as the envoy of a new country. He was in his seventies, and his fame as scientist and statesman had spread across the Western world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEngravings, plates, and miniatures of his face were nearly mass produced. Houdon, his friend, made a portrait of his own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat the Met Says\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Met dates Houdon's marble Franklin to 1778. It was the first of his portraits of American leaders. Every Benjamin Franklin bust of this type descends from that line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt captures a somewhat sly persona. Franklin wore his own unpowdered hair and plain suits in a world of wigs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScholars debate whether Franklin sat for it. This founding father portrait bust belongs in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.museumize.com\/collections\/culture-american-usa-presidents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAmerican Presidents Collection\u003c\/a\u003e. A Houdon Franklin sculpture pairs well with Washington and Jefferson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDisplay and Care\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 3 to 4 lbs, the Benjamin Franklin bust suits a desk, shelf, or bookcase. Dust the Franklin desk statue with a soft dry cloth. A founding father portrait bust likes dry rooms. Keep it away from damp air.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eJean-Antoine Houdon in Brief\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoudon was the leading French portrait sculptor of his era. He later portrayed Washington and Jefferson, and Franklin helped choose him for the Washington statue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFor More Reading from the Web\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead the Met's note on Houdon's Franklin, from the sly persona to the plain Quaker style suit. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/208578\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eBenjamin Franklin by Houdon - The Metropolitan Museum of Art\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFollow Houdon's trip to Mount Vernon, part of the commission that Jefferson and Franklin arranged. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mountvernon.org\/library\/digitalhistory\/digital-encyclopedia\/article\/jean-antoine-houdon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eJean-Antoine Houdon - George Washington's Mount Vernon\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Museum Masterworks","offers":[{"title":"White","offer_id":44420478959729,"sku":"726W","price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bronze","offer_id":44420479582321,"sku":"726B","price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0615\/0537\/files\/726W-benjamin-franklin-houdon-1080sqr.jpg?v=1788299224","url":"https:\/\/www.museumize.com\/products\/benjamin-franklin-bust","provider":"Museumize.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}