JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 1
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 2
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 3
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 4
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 5
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 6
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 7
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 8
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 9
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 10
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762 - photo 11

JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762

Lot 15
07.02.2025 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
ID 1357897
Lot 15 | JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762
Estimate value
$ 200 000 – 300 000
JOHN MICHAEL RYSBRACK (1694-1770), CIRCA 1757-1762
A BUST OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Signed and inscribed on the reverse: Benjamin Franklin / Michl: Rysbrack / Sculpt:, with associated later red marble column
white Carrara marble
23 ¼ in. (59 cm.) high, 20 ¼ in. (51.5 cm.) wide




Provenance

Benjamin West, PRA, 14 Newman Street, London (1738-1820), at least April, 1782-March, 1784;
Private Collection, Nottinghamshire, England;
By gift to Patrick Crawley, Esq., Felixkirk, Thirsk, Yorkshire, England, and offered at Christie's London, 24 April 1986, lot 89;
Sold privately from Patrick Crawley through Christie’s, London;
Private Collection, England and sold Sotheby’s, London, 10 July, 2014, lot 141 (£483,000, including premium).



Literature

G. Heathcote, ‘Newly Discovered Bust of Ben Franklin Expected to Fetch $200,000,’ Associated Press, 13 February, 1986.
R. Reif, ‘Auctions,’ New York Times, 14 February, 1986.
L. Solis-Cohen, ‘Oldest Franklin Bust to be Sold in London,’ Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 February, 1986.
G. Balderston, 'Rysbrack, Michael 1694-1770', I. Roscoe (ed.), A biographical dictionary of sculptors in Britain 1660-1851, New Haven and London, 2009, p. 1089, no. 251.
L. Solis-Cohen, ‘Collectors of Americana Shop in London,’ Maine Antiques Digest, September, 2014.
K. Eustace and Leslie Keno, Benjamin Franklin by Michael Rysbrack, New York, 2015.
Leslie Keno, Important Marble Portrait Bust of Benjamin Franklin by Michael Rysbrack: the Discovery and Unveiling of a National Treasure, 2019.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
J. Hinton, A. Lins and M. S. Meighan, Encountering Genius: Houdon’s Portraits of Benjamin Franklin, New Haven, 2001.
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