Portraits of Science!

Checked out this site on various portraits of 18th Century Men of Science and decided that if I had to hang one in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum it would be good old Ben Franklin.  The man with the plan and avid man of science and other disciplines, Ben Franklin is an iconic image of American ingenuity and scientific know how mixed with a more bold and head strong personality.

Now if one were to view this piece I would try and draw attention to the scientific accouterments that are visible in the portrait.  Particularly the bells that he is listening intently to, the bells were rigged up to a Lightning Rod which when struck would ring out and alert Ben Franklin that the rod was electrified.  The painting is supposed to illustrate this experiment in progress and was popularized later in an engraving.

The other aspect is that he is calm during the storm, to symbolize his confidence during the tumultuous change in America as well as his approach to science.  What a good man.