Artwork
Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky
Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky is an oil painting by Benjamin West. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky is a c. 1805 oil-on-slate painting by Benjamin West, held in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It measures 13.25 in × 10 in (33.7 cm × 25.4 cm).
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Benjamin Franklin's 1752 kite experiment, demonstrating the electrical nature of lightning. Franklin is shown seated on a rock, grasping the kite string as lightning flashes around him, accompanied by two children holding a mirror and playing a lyre.
Technique & Style
West's work blends Neoclassicism and Romanticism, using oil paint on a slate surface. The dark, stormy sky with swirling clouds creates a dramatic atmosphere, while the children's presence adds a dreamlike quality to the scene.
History & Provenance
The personal connection between Franklin and West likely influenced the painting's creation. West's depiction of Franklin's experiment has become a representation of this famous moment in scientific history.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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