Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky: The Famous Painting by Benjamin West
Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky illustrates Benjamin Franklin conducting his famous kite experiment in 1752 to prove the electrical nature of lightning. Franklin is shown raising his hand toward the stormy sky, while cherubs assist him.
A close view of “Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky”
Summary
This artwork is a painting created by Benjamin West around 1805. Currently housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the work commemorates Benjamin Franklin’s famous kite experiment of 1752. The painting, measuring 13.25 inches by 10 inches (33.7 cm × 25.4 cm), was executed using oil on slate. West’s artistic approach blends elements of Neoclassicism and Romanticism, capturing both the scientific ingenuity and the heroic stature of Franklin. The two historical figures, Franklin and West, knew each other personally, which influenced the painting’s conception.
Background of the Experiment
West’s painting is inspired by Franklin’s renowned experiment to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. Franklin had observed that lightning frequently caused fires by igniting wooden homes, leading him to suspect its electrical properties. Initially, he intended to use the high steeple of Christ Church in Philadelphia to conduct his experiment. However, as construction was delayed, Franklin devised an alternative method involving a kite.
Flying a kite in a thunderstorm, Franklin attached a metal key to the string. He conducted the experiment privately with his son, William, as a precaution against potential failure or public ridicule. When Franklin moved his finger close to the key, he observed a spark, proving that the clouds carried an electrical charge. This discovery led to the widespread use of lightning rods, which redirected electrical charges safely into the ground, protecting buildings from lightning strikes.
A self-portrait of Benjamin West.
Description and Interpretation
Composition and Symbolism
West’s painting presents Franklin in the midst of his experiment. He is depicted with white hair, an artistic liberty taken to align with his more iconic later image. Franklin wears a flowing red cloak and holds a scroll in his left hand while raising his right hand towards the stormy sky. A bright spark emerges between his hand and the metal key, symbolizing his monumental scientific discovery.
To Franklin’s right, a group of cherubs assist him in flying the kite and observing the experiment. One cherub is notably dressed in traditional Native American attire, a symbolic nod to the American identity. Cherubs, commonly featured in apotheosis paintings, serve to elevate Franklin to a near-mythical status. Another group of cherubs is depicted tinkering with a tool, possibly referencing Franklin’s role as an inventor.
West structures the painting using a triangular composition. Franklin’s right arm, along with the cherubs to his right and left, forms the triangle, drawing the viewer’s eye to the key and the lightning. The dramatic contrast of light and dark enhances the supernatural and heroic aura surrounding Franklin.
Romantic and Neoclassical Elements
West incorporates artistic techniques characteristic of both Neoclassicism and Romanticism. Romantic elements include the stormy, sublime atmosphere, the divine lighting, and the inclusion of cherubs, which evoke religious imagery. At the same time, the painting embodies Neoclassical traits through its structured composition, emphasis on reason and intellect, and themes of masculine heroism. By blending these styles, West elevates Franklin’s scientific achievement to an almost divine level.
Historical Accuracy and Artistic Embellishment
While the painting celebrates a historical event, West took significant artistic liberties. Franklin was in his forties at the time of the experiment, yet West portrays him as an elderly man with white hair, emphasizing his wisdom rather than his actual age. Additionally, Franklin conducted the experiment with his son, William, who is absent from the painting. Instead, West introduces cherubs, a purely symbolic addition, to enhance the painting’s dramatic effect.
This approach is consistent with West’s history painting style, where he often dramatized historical events for greater emotional impact. A similar example is his 1770 painting, The Death of General Wolfe, where he prioritized storytelling over strict historical accuracy. The depiction of Franklin in Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky serves to frame him as a Promethean figure, a hero bringing the power of electricity to humanity. In contrast, other representations, such as Carl Rohl-Smith’s Statue of Young Benjamin Franklin with Kite (1893), offer a more historically accurate portrayal of Franklin as a younger man.
West’s Relationship with Franklin
West and Franklin had a personal relationship that likely influenced the creation of this painting. Both men had strong ties to Pennsylvania—West was born in Swarthmore, and Franklin spent much of his life in Philadelphia. They met in London and formed a close friendship, to the extent that West asked Franklin to be the godfather of his second son.
After Franklin’s death in 1790, West sought to commemorate his legacy through art. Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky was intended as a study for a much larger painting that West planned to donate to the Pennsylvania Hospital, which Franklin had co-founded. Although the larger version was never realized, the smaller painting remains an enduring tribute to Franklin’s contributions to science and American identity.
The U.S. government issued a commemorative stamp in 1956 featuring “Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky.”
Influence and Cultural Legacy
Stamp Commemoration
West’s painting gained further recognition when it was selected for a commemorative U.S. postage stamp in 1956. Issued to mark the 250th anniversary of Franklin’s birth, the stamp introduced West’s artistic interpretation of Franklin’s experiment to a wider audience, reinforcing Franklin’s image as both a scientific pioneer and a founding figure of the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the painting blend Neoclassicism and Romanticism?
West incorporates Neoclassical elements like clear composition and heroic themes while using Romantic features such as religious motifs, dramatic lighting, and sublime aesthetics.
Why did Franklin conduct the kite experiment?
Franklin sought to prove that lightning carried an electrical charge, which led to the invention of the lightning rod, a device that protects buildings from lightning strikes.
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin
How does West alter historical accuracy?
West depicts Franklin as an elderly man with white hair, though Franklin was in his forties during the experiment. He also adds cherubs, portraying Franklin as a near-mythical hero.
What role do the cherubs play in the painting?
The cherubs assist Franklin, with one holding the kite string and another tinkering with a tool. Their inclusion elevates Franklin to a divine-like figure, aligning with Apotheosis paintings.
How does the painting’s composition emphasize Franklin?
West uses a triangular composition formed by Franklin’s right arm and the cherubs, drawing attention to Franklin’s hand and the key, which symbolize scientific discovery.
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What was West’s connection to Franklin?
West and Franklin were friends who met in London. Franklin was even the godfather of West’s second son. The painting was meant to honor Franklin’s achievements.
How has the painting been recognized in modern culture?
In 1956, the U.S. government featured the painting on a postage stamp to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Franklin’s birth, cementing its historical significance.
