Benjamin Franklin - Augustin de Saint-Aubin

A classic 1777 portrait of Benjamin Franklin, engraved by Augustin de Saint-Aubin after a drawing by Charles-Nicolas Cochin.

This portrait of Benjamin Franklin is a fine example of eighteenth-century French printmaking. Executed by Augustin de Saint-Aubin, the work is based on a drawing by Charles-Nicolas Cochin, created in 1777. The print depicts Franklin during his time in Paris, where he served as a diplomat to secure French support for the American Revolution.

Saint-Aubin employs precise engraving techniques to capture the texture of Franklin's iconic fur cap and the subtle contours of his face. The subject is presented within an oval frame, a common convention for formal portraiture of the period. Below the portrait, a cartouche provides biographical details, identifying the subject as a native of Boston. The use of cross-hatching and stippling creates a range of tonal values, providing depth to the figure while maintaining the clarity characteristic of the era's graphic arts.

Franklin's appearance in this print reflects the persona he adopted while in France: that of a rustic, wise philosopher from the New World. The fur cap, which he wore to avoid the formality of wigs, became a symbol of his perceived simplicity and intellectual independence. Saint-Aubin, a member of a family of engravers, was well-regarded for his technical skill and his ability to translate the nuances of a preparatory drawing into a finished print. This work serves as a historical record of the cultural exchange between the American colonies and France during the late eighteenth century. The print is a clean, academic representation that prioritises anatomical accuracy and formal balance, typical of the period's aesthetic values.