Anne Rosalie Filleul painted the portrait of Benjamin Franklin in oil on cardboard in 1778 or 1779. Most probably, this painting was a sketch for the portrait that is now kept in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In her work, she used the glazing technique: she applied translucent paints, layer by layer, to convey the smallest nuances of color. The artist masterfully conveyed the individual traits of the character that was praised by her contemporaries for its striking likeness to the original.

Filleul is believed to have painted Franklin by request of her father who had ordered an engraving from the painting. There is also a version that it was Franklin himself who wanted to sit for the artist because they were friends. There were rumors that he was even somewhat in love with the artist.

In the 1770s, Benjamin Franklin was the ambassador to France. He arrived to Paris as a celebrity; by then he had already invented the lightning rod and proved the electric nature of lightning through an experiment with a kite. And, of course, he was a well-known politician who had already put his signature on the most important historical document, the US Declaration of Independence.

Paris adored him.

The thinker’s image was often captured in sculptures and portraits. In various works he is depicted in action: studying electricity, playing chess with an English lady, riding a horse, signing the most important documents; that is only a fraction of what he was actually doing. Franklin was the 15th child in the family and received only 2 years of school education. Nevertheless, he became one of the most important public figures in the world; through his participation America became independent from England. His sayings such as Time is money and Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today are repeated in all corners of the world as folk wisdom.