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Bed Cover, "The Apotheosis of Washington and Franklin"

MEDIUM Printed cotton
  • Place Manufactured: England
  • DATES ca.1785
    DIMENSIONS 82 x 92 in. (208.3 x 233.7 cm)  (show scale)
    MARKINGS Unmarked
    ACCESSION NUMBER 32.37
    CREDIT LINE A. Augustus Healy Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Red printed toile on off-white ground. Composed of two scenes printed in a diagonal repeat. One scene shows Franklin wearing his signature beaver hat accompanied by Liberty/America wearing a Liberty Cap. Above him a banner that reads: "Where liberty dwells there is my country." The figures are preceded by a helmeted female figure [Athena/] who holds a shield with thirteen stars and leads them to a circular classical temple. There are also two putto who support a globe illustrating the Atlantic coast of the United States. The other scene shows Washington in a phaeton pulled by two leopards with a seated figure behind him wearing a plumed headdress who hold a plaque that read: "American Independence 1776." Above the leopards is putto blowing a trumpet and holding a flag with horizontal stripes. Washington is dressed in a military uniform and there are more military figures in the background.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Bed Cover, "The Apotheosis of Washington and Franklin," ca.1785. Printed cotton, 82 x 92 in. (208.3 x 233.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 32.37 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 32.37_detail_PS9.jpg)
    IMAGE detail, 32.37_detail_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2016
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     <em>Bed Cover, "The Apotheosis of Washington and Franklin,"</em> ca.1785. Printed cotton, 82 x 92 in. (208.3 x 233.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 32.37 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 32.37_detail_PS9.jpg)