A full view of George Lundeen's "Ben on the Bench" bronze statue, depicting Benjamin Franklin sitting relaxed on a park bench on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

Benjamin Franklin (on a bench)

George Lundeen

Artwork Details

Title
Benjamin Franklin (on a bench)
Artist
George Lundeen (b. 1948)
Year
1987; relocated 1992
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Height: 4'2″; Width: 4'10″; Depth 2'

Artwork Description

Sitting on a bench with a newspaper in hand and a pigeon at his side, George Lundeen’s Benjamin Franklin (on a bench) was a gift from the class of 1962 to the University of Pennsylvania in honor of the class’s 25th reunion. (The sculpture’s plaque reads, “Benjamin Franklin on Campus / Created For and Given by the Class of 1962.”) Franklin is shown reading a copy of The Pennsylvania Gazette, the newspaper that he and Hugh Meredith purchased in 1729. Franklin not only printed the newspaper, but he contributed his own writings under aliases as well. The copy that Franklin is reading is dated May 16, 1987.

Artwork Credits

Gift of the class of 1962 to the University of Pennsylvania

Owned by the University of Pennsylvania