Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 1779

Editor: Here we have Giovanni Battista Nini’s terra cotta medallion of Benjamin Franklin. I’m really struck by how such a simple material can portray such a monumental figure. What can you tell us about this piece? Curator: The fired clay speaks to the democratization of art. Consider the social context: a portrait of a revolutionary, rendered in a common material, challenges aristocratic marble busts. Editor: So, the material itself is a statement? Curator: Absolutely. It’s a shift from valuing precious materials to emphasizing the labor and skill in its making, echoing Franklin’s own values. Editor: That’s a fascinating way to look at it, I never considered the material as part of the message! Curator: Thinking about art as material production can reveal hidden social and political meanings.