Benjamin Franklin with Kite

Agnes Yarnall

Artwork Details

Title
Benjamin Franklin with Kite
Artist
Agnes Yarnall (1905 – 1989)
Year
1965; relocated 1992, 1994
Medium
Bronze, marble base
Dimensions
Height 6'1"

Artwork Description

Commissioned in 1964 by The Franklin Institute, Agnes Yarnall’s Benjamin Franklin with Kite is one of the first artworks commissioned as part of the Redevelopment Authority’s Percent for Art program. At 5 feet and 9 inches high, the sculpture shows Franklin clutching to his kite with his kerchief blowing in the wind as if in a thunderstorm. The artwork was placed in The Franklin Institute’s Research Building in 1966, and remained there until the building was sold in 1991. Following a period of time in storage, in 1994 the City donated the sculpture to the Logan Square Civic Association, which raised the funds to have the artwork installed at Coxe Park.

Artwork Credits

Commissioned by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority

Donated to the Logan Square Civic Association by Philadelphia’s Redevelopment Authority