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FRANKLIN'S 1776 VISION FOR AMERICA'S GREAT SEAL
While web surfing a reader came across an artist's painting based on Benjamin Franklin's original design concept for the Great Seal of the United States. Thanks.
-Editor
Benjamin Franklin's Great Seal Design In the story of America's Great Seal, a particularly relevant chapter is the imagery suggested by Benjamin Franklin in August 1776. He chose the dramatic historical scene described in Exodus, where people confronted a tyrant in order to gain their freedom.
Transcription of Franklin's Great Seal design Franklin's design was recommended by the first committee for the reverse side of the Great Seal. No sketch was made of their design. The above drawing was made by Benson J. Lossing for Harper's New Monthly Magazine in July 1856. Note: Lossing failed to include something Franklin specified: "Rays from a Pillar of Fire in the Clouds reaching to Moses. A full-color realization has been created of Ben Franklin's design. The new painting by surrealistic artist Robin Heslop is based solely on Franklin's written description. The result is strikingly original. To read the complete article, see: Benjamin Franklin's Great Seal Design (ww.greatseal.com/committees/firstcomm/reverse.html)
From Robin Heslop's web page: Emigrating from England to the USA in the late 1970s – followed by my Naturalization and swearing in ceremony in Miami on August 1, 1989 – had made me abundantly aware that Benjamin Franklin was the most powerful writer of his time, as well as a famous scientist, statesman, philosopher, businessman, and civic leader. It was an important step in the naturalization process that the entire history of the Declaration of Independence of 1776 be known to me in detail. I enjoyed reading many history books as well as Franklin's essays, articles, bagatelles, letters, Poor Richard's Almanack, and Autobiography. You could say I felt that Ben Franklin had now become one of my cherished Spirit Guides. So when in early 2011, my friend John MacArthur sent me Ben Franklin's description of his design for the Great Seal, I enthusiastically agreed to create a new and entirely original composition in acrylic paint on stretched canvas embellished by gold, silver and copper leaf.
To read the complete article, see:
"Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God"
(www.acrylicvisions.com/pyramids/moses.html)
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