You’ve seen him a thousand times. He’s staring back at you from a crumpled hundred-dollar bill, or maybe he’s perched on a pedestal in a dusty town square. That face—jowly, spectacled, and topped with a receding hairline that flows into long, wispy locks—is basically the visual shorthand for "Founding Father wisdom."
But honestly, the image of Ben Franklin we carry in our heads is a bit of a lie. Or, at the very least, it's a very specific, carefully managed version of a man who was the 18th-century king of personal branding.
Franklin was the most famous man in the world during his time. He knew it, too. He once wrote to his daughter, Sarah, that his face was as well known as that of the moon. He wasn't exaggerating. In Paris, his likeness was everywhere—on snuffboxes, rings, clocks, and even pocket knives. People were obsessed. But the portraits we celebrate today weren't just snapshots. They were calculated political tools.
The $100 Secret
If you pull out a Benjamin (lucky you), you’re looking at an engraving based on a 1785 portrait by Joseph Siffred Duplessis. This is the "Gold Standard" of Franklin's face.
But check this out: Duplessis actually painted Franklin several times. In the 1778 version, known as the "Fur Collar Portrait," Franklin looks a bit more like a luxurious Frenchman. He’s wearing a fancy red coat with a thick fur lining.
Wait. Isn't he supposed to be the "simple" American?
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That’s the catch. When Franklin arrived in France to beg for money and soldiers, he knew the French elite were bored of powdered wigs and silk stockings. They were obsessed with the idea of the "virtuous rustic" from the American wilderness. So, Franklin played the part. He ditched the wig. He wore a marten fur cap. He looked like a backwoods philosopher, and the French absolutely ate it up.
The image of Ben Franklin you see on the modern $100 bill is actually a refined version of this persona. By 1785, his hair was greyer, and his coat was simpler—a sober grey that signaled he had finished his mission. He had secured the alliance. He was ready to go home.
Why the "Thumb Portrait" Matters
There is another famous painting by David Martin from 1767. In this one, Franklin is sitting at a desk, looking very "Enlightenment Scientist." His thumb is pressed firmly against his chin.
It looks a bit pretentious, right?
Actually, in the 18th century, that gesture was a specific visual code for "deep thinking." It wasn't just a pose; it was a claim to intellectual authority. If you look closely at the background, there's a bust of Isaac Newton watching over him. Franklin wasn't just a printer from Philly in this image; he was being framed as Newton's successor.
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The Image of Ben Franklin: Myths vs. Reality
We don't actually know what a young Ben Franklin looked like. Not really.
Every single portrait painted from life was done when he was already an old man. Famous. Wealthy. A bit swollen from gout.
The statues you see of a young, fit Franklin arriving in Philadelphia with a loaf of bread under his arm? Those are total guesswork. Sculptors like R. Tait McKenzie had to use "forensic" imagination, looking at the bone structure of Franklin's death mask and older portraits to de-age him.
He was probably a lot more physically imposing than the "cuddly grandpa" image we have now. As a young man, he was a champion swimmer. He used to swim in the Thames in London, performing feats that amazed onlookers. He was broad-shouldered and strong from years of lifting heavy lead type in printing shops.
Propaganda and the Snake
Franklin didn't just appear in images; he created them.
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You’ve seen the "Join, or Die" snake. It’s on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and flags.
Franklin drew that woodcut himself in 1754. It was the first political cartoon in an American newspaper. It wasn't about the Revolution at first—it was actually about the French and Indian War. He was trying to tell the colonies they’d literally be "cut to pieces" if they didn't unite.
Later, he used images to shame the British. He designed a card called "Magna Britannia: her Colonies REDUC'D" which showed Britain as a woman with her arms and legs chopped off. He literally handed these cards to members of Parliament as they walked into debates. Imagine a modern lobbyist handing out brutal memes to Senators. That was Franklin.
How to Look at Franklin Today
When you search for an image of Ben Franklin today, don't just look at the clothes. Look at the eyes.
Most artists struggled to capture his expression. He had a look that people described as both serene and incredibly piercing. He was always observing. Even in the Duplessis portrait, there’s a slight, knowing smirk. It’s the face of a man who knows exactly what you’re thinking before you say it.
If you want to truly "see" him, look for the 1777 pastel by Duplessis. It’s kept at the New York Public Library and rarely shown because pastels are fragile. It’s much more intimate than the oil paintings. No fur collar. Just a man in a plain grey coat, looking tired, wise, and very, very real.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs
- Check your wallet: Look at the $100 bill. The 1996 redesign enlarged the portrait and added a watermark. Hold it to the light; you'll see a second, faint image of Ben Franklin on the right side.
- Visit the source: If you’re ever in Philadelphia, go to the American Philosophical Society. They have the original portraits and busts that were used to create the "official" version of his face.
- Spot the "fake": Remember that any image showing Franklin as a young man is a modern interpretation. Real life Franklin didn't get his portrait painted until he was an international celebrity in his late 40s.
- Analyze the clothes: Next time you see a Franklin portrait, look at the hair. If he’s not wearing a wig, he’s in his "French Diplomat" mode, using his "simple American" brand to win a war.