Above, Pastel portrait of Benjamin
Franklin from the late 18th century,
attributed to French artist Jean
Valade and based on a portrait by
Joseph-Siffred Duplessis.
Posted on 12/23/2005 4:38:55 AM PST by Pharmboy
Above, Pastel portrait of Benjamin
Franklin from the late 18th century,
attributed to French artist Jean
Valade and based on a portrait by
Joseph-Siffred Duplessis.
A scientific genius, inventor, postmaster, printer, statesman par excellence, and a man of wit and wisdom, Benjamin Franklin is arguably the most accessible Founding Father. More books have been written about him than nearly any other figure of the American Revolution. On Jan. 17, we will celebrate the 300th anniversary of his birth, and The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino is marking the occasion with the display one of its greatest treasures - the original, handwritten manuscript of Franklin's renowned 'Autobiography.'
'This is the only one and it is the source of all those thousands of editions printed later,' said John Rhodehamel, Norris Foundation Curator of American Historical Manuscripts at The Huntington.
'Of the five to six million books here, Franklin's 'Autobiography' is one of our greatest treasures.'
The exhibit - 'The Art of Virtue: Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography' - opened Saturday in the West Hall of the Library, where it will remain on display through March 26.
The pastel portrait of Franklin by Jean Valade, which was based on the oil painting by Joseph-Siffrede Duplessis in 1779, looks down upon his writings and his visitors, wearing a red cloth jacket, fur collar and his naturally gray wavy hair, displaying a receding hairline and how the American diplomat shunned the popular white powdered wig of the time.
The familiar portrait is said to be the basis for Franklin's image on the $100 bill.
While the portrait is iconic, the exhibit focuses upon Franklin's personal philosophy and his very powerful words.
For the first time in nearly two centuries, the autograph manuscript of Franklin's 'Autobiography' has been partially disassembled to allow visitors to see a series of pages at one time, Rhodehamel said.
'I don't think this will happen again,' he noted.
Franklin spent 20 years of his life writing his 'Autobiography.' But at 230 pages, it is an unfinished work. Franklin was believed to have been writing it up to his death in 1790. For the exhibit, 20 of the pages have been taken out and arranged in cases for the public to read and admire.
The book originally was a collection of loose papers, Rhodehamel explained. The loose pages originally had been glued to strips of paper known as tabs. The tabs were then sewn together.
Conservators at The Huntington sliced through the tabs, not the pages of the book, to take the pages apart.
'The experience of seeing this extraordinary document in this way should give visitors a deeper understanding of what makes this such a celebrated American testament,' said Rhodehamel.
The exhibition focuses on the central theme of the book - what Franklin called 'the Art of Virtue.' The attainment of virtue was key to his plan for finding happiness through self-improvement and service to others, Rhodehamel said.
The 'Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin' is a cornerstone of American literature and one of the most enduring books written. It has never been out of print since its initial publication in 1791, and has been translated into every major world language.
Unlike his very public documents, Franklin wrote his 'Autobiography' as a letter to his son, explaining how a poor immigrant became a successful businessman, scientist and inventor.
Franklin died while writing the autobiography, reaching only the year 1757. Ironically, Franklin never describes in his own words many of the achievements for which he is best remembered:
Cementing the alliance with France, which assured victory over the mighty British in the American Revolution, and signing the three key documents that established America as an independent nation, the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Treaty of Paris in 1783 and the Constitution in 1787.
'While we may lament the loss, the Autobiography is much more than an unfinished life story. It is a guide to the Art of Virtue,' a guide to finding happiness and seeking moral perfection, Rhodehamel said.
'It is much more than a rags-to-riches story.'
Franklin had little use for organized religion, he said, but Franklin believed in God, the immortality of the soul, and reward and punishment in a future state.
Franklin wrote that the 'most acceptable Service of God was doing Good to Man.' Then he set out to find the most important virtues and developed a plan for realizing them.
On one of the pages displayed, visitors see the list of 13 virtues Franklin thought were behind his own success and happiness - temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility.
Another page shows how he attempted to make virtuosity 'Habitual,' by charting daily his own success in keeping the 13 Virtues.
The story of Franklin, the 15th and youngest son of an immigrant candle maker, starts in Boston. He was apprenticed to his brother James at age 12 and became a master printer.
He showed his intellect early when he began publishing essays that attracted widespread attention. He left his brother's printing shop and went to Philadelphia, where he started his own printing shop.
In 1732, he began publishing annual editions of the enormously popular 'Poor Richard's Almanack,' little books packed with weighty maxims that are still in use - 'A penny saved is a penny earned.'
'Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.' His ever-questioning mind led him to invent such devices that improve the quality of life as swim fins (circa 1717), the Franklin stove (1762), a musical instrument made of spinning glass.
But it was his work as a scientist that won him his fame and the respect of world leaders. Unveiling the secrets of lightening and electricity earned him the respect of Europe, making him the first colonial American to achieve an international reputation as the 'American Newton.'
Also on display in The Huntington exhibit, visitors will see several editions of 'Poor Richard's Almanack,' as well as several political works that illustrate Franklin's development as a Founding Father.
Visitors will also see items from other Huntington collections, including printed words on Franklin's electrical experiments, early views of Philadelphia, and some imprints Franklin produced in his printing shop, and two portrait medallions:
a terra cotta medallion showing Franklin as the 'rustic American,' donning a fur hat; and a white porcelain medallion showing his furrowed brow and balding pate.
Vicki Smith Paluch is a freelance writer based in Altadena.
Write to her in care of San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, Features Department, 1210 N. Azusa Canyon Road, West Covina, CA 91790.
Please Freepmail me to get ON of OFF this ping list.
My favorite: "Fish and relatives stink after three days".
My house smells reaaaaal bad right now. :(
Mebbe you'll open some nice presents from them in a few days...hope so! Merrie Christmas!
one thing is for sure, the more pictures of Ben that you have handy, the more "friends" you have
Here's my favorite: "They who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Franklin was the leading theorist of electricity of his time. Next time you replace a battery in something, remember that it was Benjamin Franklin who labeled the positive and negative terminals of direct current.
Benjamin Frankin was an exemplar of the Enlightenment, a renowned scientist in a day when renowned scientists were rock stars. He was ulniquely able to gain access to high French circles; people wanted to meet him.
And... as a Christmas present for FreeRepublic Readers, you might enjoy A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from the same source.
Franklin's Kite:
http://www.mos.org/sln/toe/kite.html
LOL. I'm leaving in about an hour to go stink up my sister's house in Indy. Hmmm. My stay is for five days.
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy".
In celebration of his 300th
Poor Richard's Ale.
http://www.poorrichardsale.com
http://www.benfranklin300.com/news_release.php?id=24
Please put me on your "Ye olde RevWar/Colonial History/Gen. Washington pinge list." Thanks. I didn't know it existed or would have made the request long before now. The greatest generation was not the one that fought WWII, but the one that founded this nation.
We on the right side of the policial divide should remember that in these dangerous times.
Just help with the dishes and don't be a picky eater and it will all work out. Have a safe trip and Merry Christmas!!
Thanks for noting the Gutenberg Project, have bookmarked....
If you (or anyone else for that matter, would like to assist in helping them put these public domain books on the internet, you can go to the Distributed Proofreaders site and proofread pages for them. It's done in a really slick way. If you have 20 minutes to spare you can proof a page that will become available to anyone on the internet who wants it. They are always looking for volunteers. Imagine how much work can be done if 10000 people proof one page a day, or even just one a week!
I've amended that somewhat. I think there are three things that easily prove not only that God exists, but that He loves us and wants us to be happy.
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