Description
David Martin was a Scottish-born painter known for his portraits of prominent figures of the late 18th century. Martin was a student and assistant to Allan Ramsay, under whom he developed a style of rendering the subject of his portraits with elegance and psychological depth. Martin is most well-known for his 1767 portrait of Benjamin Franklin, though he had a long and successful career painting British aristocrats, scholars, and political leaders. His work is represented in many museums across the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.
Edward Savage was an American engraver, painter, and publisher from Princeton, Massachusetts. Originally trained as a goldsmith, Savage transitioned to art, becoming a skilled mezzotint engraver and portraitist. He gained prominence for the offered engraving of David Martin’s portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Savage is also remembered for his iconic painting and engraving of The Washington Family, depicting George Washington and his family in an idealized domestic setting. His work played a crucial role in shaping the public image of key figures in early American history.
Inscriptions:
Lettered below the image with the title and ‘D. Martin Ppnx.t // London Published Sep.r 17. 1793, by E. Savage, Nop. 50 Hatton Garden. // E: Savage sculp.t’
Condition: Generally very good recently professionally cleaned and deacidified, with only light remaining toning and wear. A few minor abrasions professionally restored and unobtrusive.
References:
“Benjamin Franklin.” Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Original Painting. https://www.pafa.org/museum/collection/item/benjamin-franklin (17 March 2025).
“Benjamin Franklin by David Martin.” White House History. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/benjamin-franklin-by-david-martin. (17 March 2025).
“Benjamin Franklin L.L.D. F.R.S.” British Museum. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2010-7081-2766. (17 March 2025).
“B. Franklin of Philadelphia.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/2003674082/ (9 September 2019).
Chapin, Joyce E. The First Scientific American: Benjamin Franklin and the Pursuit of Genius. New York: Basic Books, p. 166. Online at Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=7tYEbB3oMvQC&pg=PA166 (9 September 2019).
“David Martin.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Martin_(artist) (17 March 2025).
“Edward Savage.” American Art Smithsonian Institute. https://americanart.si.edu/artist/edward-savage-4270 (17 March 2025).
“History of the Ordnance Survey.” http://you.genie.co.uk/forbescr/historyos.html (7 May 2002).
Russell, Charles E. English Mezzotint Portraits and Their States: Catalogue of Corrections of and Additions to Chaloner Smith’s ‘British Mezzotinto Portraits.’ Vol 2. London: Halton & Truscott Smith, Ltd. New York: Minto, Balch & Co., 1926. 73.
“White House Paintings: ‘Benjamin Franklin,’ by Benjamin Wilson (1759).” John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/JFKWHP/1961/Month%2007/Day%2006/JFKWHP-1961-07-06-E (9 September 2019).
Wood, Gordon S. The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Penguin, 2005. p. 87. Online at Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=Ak1RVLZDv4gC&pg=PA87 (9 September 2019).
