One last word : Benjamin Franklin and the Duplessis portrait of 1778

Author

Arbour, Keith

Document type

Article (journal)

Language

English

Source

Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography. 1994, Num. 3, Vol. 118, 183-208, 4 ill.

ISSN

0031-4587

Abstract (en)

Elucidates the meaning of puns implicit in Joseph Siffred Duplessis's portrait of Franklin, focusing on the inscription "VIR" (the Latin for "man") on the frame and the "fur" (the Latin for "thief") collar worn by the sitter (New York, Metropolitan Museum). Arbour argues that the pun is Franklin's own invention and his ultimate response to an attack made on his character by Alexander Wedderburn in 1774. Arbour suggests that the joke highlights important elements of Franklin's thought on literate and pictorial communication with his contemporaries and posterity.

Subject (en)

• General history of art -- 1400-1800 -- Pictorial arts -- Painting and drawing -- France
• Duplessis, Joseph Siffred, 1725-1802
• Painting
• Portrait of Benjamin Franklin
• Metropolitan Museum of Art||New York (NY, USA)
• France
• 1700-1800
• Portraits
• Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
• Politics
• United States
• Puns
• Inscriptions
• Latin (language)
• Fur
• Iconography
• Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, earl of, 1733-1805
• Frames

Subject (fr)

• Histoire générale de l'art -- 1400-1800 -- Peinture et arts graphiques -- Peinture et dessin -- France
• Duplessis, Joseph Siffred, 1725-1802
• Peinture
• Portrait de Benjamin Franklin
• Metropolitan Museum of Art||New York (NY, USA)
• France
• 1700-1800
• Portrait
• Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
• Politique
• Etats-Unis
• Calembour
• Inscription
• Latin (langue)
• Fourrure
• Iconographie
• Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, earl of, 1733-1805
• Cadre

Origin

DatabaseBHA (Inist-CNRS/GRI)

Identifier19950101-00310508

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