The myth of a white-haired hero capturing lightning from the heavens
In short: Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment is one of science's most enduring images, but the iconic painting of it is more fiction than fact. It blends Neoclassical heroism with Romantic mystery, transforming a dangerous private test into a deified myth of American discovery.
The painting 'Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky' was created by Benjamin West around 1805. While it depicts Franklin's 1752 experiment to prove lightning was electrical, West took significant artistic liberties. He portrayed Franklin as an elderly man with white hair and wrinkles, despite Franklin being in his forties at the time of the actual experiment. To heighten the drama, West included cherubs—traditionally used in 'Apotheosis' paintings to deify humans—and dressed one in Native American attire, framing Franklin as a Prometheus-like figure of scientific triumph.
The composition is meticulously engineered to direct the viewer's gaze. West arranged the cherubs and Franklin's arm into a triangle, a foundational compositional tool, to draw the eye toward the spark between the metal key and Franklin's hand. He also exaggerated the visual of the electricity, making it more pronounced than the actual lightning in the background. While the painting blends Neoclassical masculine heroism with Romantic sublime aesthetics, it serves as a 'history painting' that prioritizes dramatic effect over historical accuracy.
In reality, Franklin conducted the experiment in private with his son, William, to avoid disappointing the scientific community if it failed. His initial plan involved the steeples of Christ Church in Philadelphia, but he pivoted to the kite and key method. The success of these private tests led to the widespread adoption of lightning rods. While West's work became a national symbol—even appearing on a 1956 memorial stamp—other works, like Carl Rohl-Smith's statue, offer a more accurate depiction of a much younger Franklin.
The painting was commissioned as a tribute following Franklin's death, intended as a study for a larger work for the Philadelphia Hospital. It stands as a testament to how art can shape the public memory of scientific progress, turning a practical observation of atmospheric electricity into a legendary narrative of human achievement.
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