Pair of Bronze Busts of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington
French, circa 1820 - Height: 8 inches
 
A finely cast and well-composed pair of bronze busts depicting Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, each mounted on a Siena Marble columnar pedestal with square plinth base and identifying plaque to the front. Executed in France in the early nineteenth century, the models reflect the enduring transatlantic admiration for the principal figures of the American Revolution, whose likenesses were widely disseminated through European decorative arts and neoclassical interiors.
 
Franklin, shown in civilian dress, is contrasted with Washington in military uniform, reinforcing their respective identities as philosopher-diplomat and commanding general. Conceived as companion pieces for display, the busts embody the neoclassical taste of the period while evoking the close political and intellectual ties between France and the young American republic in the decades following the Revolution.
 
Condition: Very fine; an early repaired crack to the reverse of one marble column.