Recognized by All
The subjects of the portraits in this section were—in their day and after—instantly recognizable to many viewers. In some cases, printmakers and publishers capitalized on their fame and created images showing revered leaders—such as George Washington or Benjamin Franklin—as Freemasons to appeal to Masonic consumers.
Masons could purchase affordable prints of these subjects to display in their homes. These images were also part of the décor of many Masonic buildings where portraits of well-known Freemasons reminded members and visitors of these admired heroes’ association with the fraternity.
