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Bust of Benjamin Franklin (1706-90): M.2-1902

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Current Location: In storage

Titles

Bust of Benjamin Franklin (1706-90)

Maker(s)

Sculptor: Houdon, Jean-Antoine
Founder: Barbedienne, F.

Entities

Categories

Description

Bronze electrotype. Inscribed on the back: 'Benjamin Franklin/by/Jean Antoine Houdon, 1778/For/Cambridge University, England/A gift from/Jonathan Ackerman Coles, A.B., A.M., M.D./an alumnus of/Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.'

Notes

History note: Given by Jonathan Ackerman Coles to the University in or before 1902.See letter in file for object, of 7th June, 1902, addressed to M.R. James from A.W. C , stating that the bust had been presented to the University. (The original is in the Museum Archives, 062648).

Legal notes

Given by Jonathan Akerman Coles

Measurements and weight

Depth: 24 cm
Height: 56.3 cm
Width: 36.3 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1902) by Coles, Jonathan Ackerman

Dating

19th Century, Late-20th Century, Early
1860 CE - 1902 CE

People, subjects and objects depicted

Project

  • Sculpture UK

Materials used in production

Bronze

Techniques used in production

Electrotyping : Bronze electrotype

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: F. BARBEDIENNE Fondeur
  • Location: On left shoulder edge
  • Type: Mark
  • Text: houdon X . 1778
  • Location: On right shoulder edge
  • Type: Mark
  • Text: Tiffany & Co
  • Location: Below inscription at the back
  • Type: Mark
  • Text: Benjamin Franklin/by/Jean Antoine Houdon, 1778/For/Cambridge University, England/A gift from/Jonathan Ackerman Coles, A.B., A.M., M.D./an alumnus of/Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.
  • Method of creation: Inscribed on the back

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.2-1902
Primary reference Number: 12180
External ID: CAM_CCF_M_2_1902

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 11 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Bust of Benjamin Franklin (1706-90)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/12180 Accessed: 2025-12-05 17:48:01

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/12180 |title=Bust of Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 17:48:01|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Bust of Benjamin Franklin (1706-90)</figcaption>
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