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Catalog Data

Artist:
Unidentified Artist  Search this
Copy after:
Johann Caspar Lavater, 1741 - 1801  Search this
Sitter:
George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799  Search this
Benjamin Franklin, 17 Jan 1706 - 17 Apr 1790  Search this
Medium:
Etching and engraving on paper
Dimensions:
Image: 10.1cm x 15.9 cm (4" x 6 1/4")
Plate: 11.1cm x 17.7 cm (4 3/8" x 6 15/16")
Sheet: 12.5cm x 19 cm (4 15/16" x 7 1/2")
Type:
Print
Date:
1788
Exhibition Label:
This print, depicting George Washington (1732–1799) and Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) facing each other in profile, was published in the Columbian Magazine (Philadelphia, March 1788). However, it was copied from an early edition of the Swiss author Johan Caspar Lavater’s Essays on Physiognomy (1775–78), which proposed a person’s character was evident in their expressions, facial features, and head shape. The magazine’s author quoted Lavater’s analysis of Washington’s silhouetted profile, noting his good qualities and adding, “the original must be distinguished by an indefatigable activity—a man who acts with prudence, and always with dignity.”
Este grabado, en el que se representa a George Washington (1732–1799) y Benjamin Franklin (1706– 1790) enfrentados de perfil, se publicó en la revista Columbian Magazine (Filadelfia, marzo de 1788). Sin embargo, fue copiado de una edición temprana de la obra Ensayos sobre fisionomía del autor suizo Johan Caspar Lavater (1775–78), que proponía que el temperamento de una persona se hacía evidente en sus expresiones, rasgos faciales y en la forma de su cabeza. El autor de la revista citó el análisis del perfil de Washington hecho por Lavater, haciendo refe- rencia a sus buenas cualidades, y añadió: “el original debe distinguirse por una actividad infatigable: un hombre que actúa con prudencia y siempre con dignidad”.
Topic:
Silhouette  Search this
George Washington: Male  Search this
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Revolutionary War  Search this
George Washington: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman  Search this
George Washington: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this
George Washington: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
George Washington: Politics and Government\President of US  Search this
George Washington: Science and Technology\Surveyor  Search this
George Washington: Congressional Gold Medal  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Male  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Literature\Writer  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental congressman  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial statesman\Signer of Declaration  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Science and Technology\Scientist  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Diplomat  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Society and Social Change\Philanthropist  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Science and Technology\Inventor  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Crafts and Trades\Printer  Search this
Benjamin Franklin: Politics and Government\Government official\Postmaster  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Object number:
NPG.77.78
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location:
Currently not on view
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4fc06ac8c-b3b2-4755-921f-d45556a84185
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.77.78