William P. Babcock|Louis de Carmontelle

This 1870s oil-on-wood portrait shows Benjamin Franklin in a dark coat and white cravat, the sitter’s gaze calm but direct. The artist’s name is William P. Babcock, though this piece is sometimes credited to Louis de Carmontelle by catalogers who once confused the two. The wood panel has a fine grain that catches light around Franklin’s sleeve. No movement tags apply—it’s a straightforward likeness from an era when portraits were often painted on small, portable panels like this one. See how Franklin’s right hand rests just inside his coat, a pose borrowed from older English gentleman portraits.