Portrait of Benjamin Franklin attributed to Mason Chamberlin

Attributed to Mason Chamberlin
1729-1787 | British

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin

Oil on canvas

This exceptional portrait of Benjamin Franklin represents one of the most significant rediscoveries in American portraiture history, attributed to the renowned British artist Mason Chamberlin and dating to circa 1775. Among only 36 known oil portraits documenting Franklin's celebrated life, this work captures the statesman during his final diplomatic mission to London, depicting him in his characteristic brown suit and powdered wig before he abandoned such formal attire in 1776. The portrait's provenance and historical context make it an extraordinarily rare treasure from the founding era of American independence.

The composition presents Franklin seated at his study table in the identical setting Chamberlin employed for his acclaimed 1762 portrait, now housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The artist masterfully captures the thirteen years that had elapsed between sittings, incorporating Franklin's additional wrinkles and the spectacles placed near an open book that reflect his matured wisdom as a diplomat. The brushwork demonstrates Chamberlin's characteristic refined technique, with the subject's contemplative expression conveying both intellectual gravitas and the weight of his diplomatic responsibilities during this pivotal moment in Anglo-American relations.

Mason Chamberlin established himself as one of London's most sought-after portraitists during the Georgian era, serving as a founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1768. His 1762 portrait of Franklin, which depicted the polymath surrounded by his scientific instruments, became one of the most iconic representations of the American philosopher and was reproduced as woodcuts that Franklin himself distributed to friends. Chamberlin's ability to capture both physical likeness and psychological depth made him the preferred choice for prominent figures of his era, including members of the British aristocracy and distinguished visitors to London.

The painting's fascinating provenance includes more than a century in Italian collections, where it was mistakenly attributed to Pietro Longhi by art historian Giuseppe Fiocco in the early 20th century. However, the brushwork, canvas and painting technique are unmistakably 18th-century English, consistent with Chamberlin's documented methods. The historical timing supports the attribution, as Franklin arrived in London in 1774 for his final diplomatic mission and fled in 1775 to avoid arrest, which would explain why he never retrieved this completed portrait from the artist's studio.

Circa 1775

Canvas: 45 3/8" high x 39 1/8" wide (115.25 x 99.38 cm)
Frame: 54" high x 47 7/8" wide (137.16 x 121.60 cm)

Provenance:
Private collection, Italy
Collection of Don Ermanno Volta (1925-2016)
M.S. Rau, New Orleans