Benjamin Franklin

This portrait of Benjamin Franklin was made by Jean-Baptiste Nini using terracotta, an unassuming material, but one perfectly suited to mass production. Nini was a master of terracotta portrait medallions, and he created this image of Franklin during the latter’s time as an ambassador in France. Notice how Franklin is depicted not in aristocratic finery, but in a simple fur cap. This was a conscious decision to portray him as a man of the people, an image he carefully cultivated. Terracotta was ideal for creating multiples, allowing Franklin to disseminate his image widely and associate himself with republican values. Inexpensive materials can have revolutionary potential, making this medallion a powerful symbol of Franklin’s political agenda. It reminds us that even a humble material can carry significant social and political weight.