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This painting commemorates Benjamin Franklin's association with the Society, the 200th anniversary, on 1 September 1956, of his election to membership and the celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth, on 11 January 1956. The designer, Miss Anna Zinkeisen, reconstructed a meeting held on 3 February 1759 of the committee responsible for fine art competitions: at this meeting selected candidates were interviewed for confirmation of their awards. The minutes of the meeting give a list of those who were present, and from contemporary portraits Zinkeisen was able to select those shown: Judges: Benjamin Franklin (seated), William Chambers (standing behind chair), Edward Hooper and James 'Athenian' Stuart (looking at figure drawn by Richard Cosway).
Royal Society of Arts
London
Title
Benjamin Franklin (Seated), Presiding at a Meeting of the Society's Committee of Polite Arts, 3rd February 1759
Date
c.1959
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 44 x W 55 cm
Accession number
RSA030
Work type
Painting
Inscription description
BENJAMIN FRANKLYN (Seated) PRESIDING AT A MEETING OF THE SOCIETY’S COMMITTEE OF POLITE ARTS, 3 FEB. 1759 by ANNA ZINKEISEN, R.O.I., R.D.I., 1956
Royal Society of Arts
8 John Adam Street, London, Greater London WC2N 6EZ England
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