Mason Chamberlin
Encyclopedia
Mason Chamberlin was an English
portrait painter
and one of the founding members of the Royal Academy
in 1768.
He was a student of Francis Hayman
.
He is perhaps best known for a portrait of Benjamin Franklin
, commissioned by wealthy Virginia
n landowner and friend of Franklin's in London, Col. Philip Ludwell III, and painted from life in 1762. It shows Franklin seated in his study with lightning striking outside the window in the background, and a lightning rod on his house. He looks to the left at a set of lightning bells (a device of his own invention), which would ring to signal when lightning was striking the rod. Franklin could then use the electricity in order to perform his experiments.
The original painting is owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Franklin's son William also commissioned a replica of this painting to be made, for Franklin to give him as a gift to hang in the dining room of William's new home—the copy is presumed to have been sent to America, but has since been destroyed.
Later in 1762 (or early 1763) a popular mezzotint was made after it (which may have been part of the agreement between Chamberlin and Ludwell), by Irish-born engraver Edward Fisher (1730–1785). Franklin's son William ordered 100 copies to sell in America, 18 of which Franklin distributed himself, mostly to friends in New England such as Mather Byles, Ezra Stiles, and Franklin's niece's husband Jonathan Williams. This was Franklin's favorite print during the time, partially because of the accurate likeness, for which Chamberlin was successful.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
portrait painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and one of the founding members of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1768.
He was a student of Francis Hayman
Francis Hayman
Francis Hayman was an English painter and illustrator who became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768 and later its first librarian....
.
He is perhaps best known for a portrait of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, commissioned by wealthy Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
n landowner and friend of Franklin's in London, Col. Philip Ludwell III, and painted from life in 1762. It shows Franklin seated in his study with lightning striking outside the window in the background, and a lightning rod on his house. He looks to the left at a set of lightning bells (a device of his own invention), which would ring to signal when lightning was striking the rod. Franklin could then use the electricity in order to perform his experiments.
The original painting is owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Franklin's son William also commissioned a replica of this painting to be made, for Franklin to give him as a gift to hang in the dining room of William's new home—the copy is presumed to have been sent to America, but has since been destroyed.
Later in 1762 (or early 1763) a popular mezzotint was made after it (which may have been part of the agreement between Chamberlin and Ludwell), by Irish-born engraver Edward Fisher (1730–1785). Franklin's son William ordered 100 copies to sell in America, 18 of which Franklin distributed himself, mostly to friends in New England such as Mather Byles, Ezra Stiles, and Franklin's niece's husband Jonathan Williams. This was Franklin's favorite print during the time, partially because of the accurate likeness, for which Chamberlin was successful.