Benjamin Franklin’s portrait painted by Philadelphia portrait artist Thomas Sully and his daughter Jane Cooper Sully in 1834 has been put up for auction by the founding father’s descendants, writes Stephanie Farr for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Siblings Benjamin Franklin Pepper Jr. and Holly White both recall when the painting of their great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather arrived at their home for the first time in 1966.

Their father designed the entire living room around the huge 51-by-44-inch artwork.

“I remember standing in our living room, staring at it and ruminating on what he was thinking about,” said Pepper.

Each holiday season, their ancestor was included in the festivities.

“The Christmas tree was always near enough so that any family pictures included the portrait of him in them,” said White.

Despite being a part of the family for generations, the siblings are selling the portrait through Christie’s Important Americana auction in January. The painting has been valued at between $100,000 and $200,000.

They are also selling four other pieces of Franklin memorabilia, including a mezzotint of him, a terracotta portrait medallion of him, and two documents containing his signature. Their estimated values range between $1,000 and $12,000.

White and Pepper hope after it is purchased, more people are able to see and appreciate the portrait.

Read more about the Benjamin Franklin portrait at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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