| Statue of Benjamin Franklin | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | John J. Boyle |
| Year | 1896–1899 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Dimensions | 230 cm × 130 cm × 150 cm (90 in × 53 in × 59 in) |
| Location | University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°57′7″N75°11′37.25″W / 39.95194°N 75.1936806°W /39.95194; -75.1936806 |
| Owner | University of Pennsylvania |
A bronze statue of a seatedBenjamin Franklin byJohn J. Boyle is installed at theUniversity of Pennsylvania inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located in front ofCollege Hall, on Locust Walk, between 34th and 36th Streets,[1] and is one of three statues of Franklin on the campus.
It was commissioned by department store founderJustus C. Strawbridge in 1896, as a gift to the City of Philadelphia. It was cast by the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Company of New York, and installed in 1899 in front of Philadelphia's Main Post Office, at 9th and Chestnut Streets.[2]Benjamin Franklin was the firstUnited States Postmaster General. The granite pedestal was designed by architectFrank Miles Day. Its inscription quotes PresidentGeorge Washington's eulogy of Franklin:
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
1706–1790
VENERATED
FOR BENEVOLENCE
ADMIRED FOR TALENTS
ESTEEMED FOR PATRIOTISM
BELOVED FOR
PHILANTHROPYWASHINGTON
(On back of pedestal):
PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA BY JUSTUS C STRAWBRIDGE 1899
(On back of statue):
JOHN J. BOYLE 1899
HENRY-BONNARD BRONZE CO FOUNDERS NY 1899
GIFT OF JUSTUS C STRAWBRIDGE
A signed Founder's mark also appears on the back of the statue.[3]
In 1938, when the Post Office was razed, the City gave the statue on permanent loan to theUniversity of Pennsylvania, anIvy League university inPhiladelphia. Franklin was a founder of the university. It was relocated to the Penn campus, and rededicated on January 21, 1939.
It was cleaned and reinstalled in 1980.
A copy of the statue was given by theNew England Society to France in 1906. It is located at theTrocadéro inParis.
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