

Printed Piece: The Apotheosis of Franklin
The image depicts a square piece of fabric with a black and white toile de Jouy-style print. The print features numerous scenes of people in 18th-century attire, including men in tricorn hats and women in long dresses. The scenes are set amidst trees, plants, and animals, including birds, an elephant, and a tiger. Some scenes appear to be from everyday life, while others show people engaging in activities such as hunting. Benjamin Franklin is depicted in several scenes, rising to a semi-divine status in the manner of classical apotheosis, specifically in a scene with an eagle and American flag, and another with a striped flag. The scenes are densely packed and intricately detailed, with many small elements and patterns throughout. The fabric appears to be made of a smooth material, possibly cotton or silk. The title "The Apotheosis of Franklin" is associated with this image, and it is the work of an unknown artist. The overall design is ornate and visually striking, with a clear focus on storytelling through the various scenes depicted.
Artwork Details
- Date
- ca. 1785
- Medium
- Cotton, copperplate printed
- Culture
- British
- Dimensions
- 599 × 486 px
- Public Domain
- Yes
- Museum Record
- View original
You May Also Like

The Four Continents

Curtain

Piece

Miller's Family

Piece

Fragment of Woodblock Printed Cotton

Piece

Fragments of Copperplate Printed Cotton

Fragments of Copperplate Printed Cotton

Printed Piece

Piece

Strip of Copperplate Printed Cotton with "Les plaisirs de la ferme" Design

Copperplate-Printed Cotton

Fragment

Piece

Pair of Curtains

Sleeve Band

Sleeve Band

Valance

Valance, blue-resist textile

Hunting Scene

Piece

Fragment of Printed Cotton

Les Travaux de la Manufacture





