![[FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN] Fragment of the 18th century textile "The Apotheosis of Franklin and Washington."](/sites/default/files/styles/auction_slider/public/images/lots/832/1506832.jpg?itok=Lc0HvSjS)
Lot Details
Lot 54
[FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN] Fragment of the 18th century textile "The Apotheosis of Franklin and Washington."
A fragment of the English copperplate-printed toile textile known as The Apotheosis of Franklin and Washington, late 18th century (circa 1785-1790), the fragment showing Franklin in three-quarter length with a female figure holding the ends of a banner reading "Where liberty dwells there is my country," the fragment with a border added, housed in a fine green morocco backed clamshell case. 13 1/2 x 11 1/4 inches (34 x 29 cm). Some faint stains and two minor punctures, cut from a larger textile, very presentable overall.
A fragment of the 18th century textile known as The Apotheosis of Franklin and Washington. The fragment shows Franklin, holding a scroll and wearing academic robes and his famous cap, after the portrait of him made by Jean-Baptiste Nini in 1777. We trace examples printed in both black and red and in various sizes. For an example of the full textile, see: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/221531
For an informative article on the history of the textile, see: Whitney A.J. Robertson. "Sleeping Amongst Heroes: Copperplate-printed Bed Furniture in the "Washington and American Independance [sic] 1776; the Apotheosis of Franklin" Pattern", Textile Society of America, 13th Biennial Symposium, September 19-22, 2012, Washington, D.C. [https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1738&context=tsaconf].
C Private Collection of Barbara and Ira Lipman
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