Administered by University of Pennsylvania Office of the Curator 100 College Hall Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19104
Located University of Pennsylvania In Front of Weightman Hall Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19104
Date:
Commissioned 1910. Modeled 1911. Dedicated June 16, 1914
Notes:
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia survey, 1992.
National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, PA5032, 1989.
Fairmount Park Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 278.
Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.
University of Pennsylvania, University Archives, 1970.
Monumental News (Aug. 1914).
Monumental News (July 1914).
Image on file.
Fairmount Art Assoc., "Sculpture of a City: Philadelphia's Treasures in Bronze & Stone," NY: Walker Publ., 1974, pg. 278.
Monumental News (Aug. 1914): pg. 507.
(Front of base:) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN/IN 1723/FROM/THE CLASS OF 1904/COLLEGE (Proper right side of base:) I have been/the more particular/in this description of my journey/that you may compare/such unlikely beginning/with the figure/I have since made there (Proper left side of base:) This memorial/dedicated at the tenth reunion/of the class of 1904/is a tribute/to the inspiration and example/of the founder of the university/to many generations/of the sons/of Pennsylvania
The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary:
Figure of young Benjamin Franklin in mid-stride, proper left leg behind. Proper left arm is extended in front of him, holding walking stick. He holds a sack in his proper right hand. His head is tilted upward and directed toward the proper right. He wears period clothing, open overcoat, and tri-cornered hat.
