Look At Me!

Benjamin Franklin was the subject of a great many portraits during his life, an art form which enjoyed great popularity during the 18th century. During this time, portraits would take many forms, including framed oil paintings, watercolour miniatures, bracelets, and brooches. In these days before photographs, portraits were a wonderful reminder of one’s family and friends.

Look At Me! introduces children to the concept of portraiture as practised in Georgian times. Using famous 18th century portraits of Franklin, as well as other prominent figures such as King George III, and architect Sir Christopher Wren, children discover how to look for clues in a person’s portrait as to their profession or role in society. They then apply their learning to create their own self-portrait collage: their silhouette surrounded by images that reflect their interests, and the people and things important to them.

Duration: 1 hour in class or 30 minutes via Zoom.

To book, please call +44 (0)20 7839 2013 or email education@benjaminfranklin.org