FRANKLIN (BENJAMIN, 1706-1790, American statesman, scientist and philosopher)
GOOD CONTEMPORARY ENGRAVED PORTRAIT OF FRANKLIN after Louis Carrogis de Carmontelle
(1717-1806), showing the seated full-length Franklin in profile facing left, ships
in the background, 'Les Loix de la Pensilvanie' under his hat on a table, lettered
below the image 'On l'a vu désarmer les Tirans et les Dieux', Franklin's name
written in pencil in the lower margin, two small fairly unobtrusive marks on
surface, framed and glazed, size of aperture 14½ x 9 inches, overall size c. 20½
x 15½ inches, 'chez Nèe rue les Francs-Bourgeois, Porte St. Michel A[vec].P[rivilège].D[u].R[oi].',
Paris, no date [but pre-1789]
Franklin spent the years 1776 to 1785 in France, and this must
date from that period. Carmontelle, the stage-name of Louis Carrogis, a former
soldier, only painted his subjects in profile. Among his other subjects was
Laurence Sterne.
£950