Head-and-shoulders small-scale bronze bust of Sir John Franklin, signed 'A. C. Lucchesi' on the back, on a square red-marble socle.

It shows the Arctic explorer facing forward, wearing a fur coat over his uniform and three medals. Franklin was awarded the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order in 1836. This is the decoration shown hanging round his neck, which is now also in the NMM collection (see AAA2079). He also held the Order of the Redeemer of Greece and the Gold Medal of the Société de Géographie, Paris.

This posthumous bust by Lucchesi (1860-1924) was commissioned by Franklin's godson and great-nephew, Willingham Franklin Rawnsley, who was dissatisfied with existing images of him. It was based on these and sittings by Franklin's nephew, the Revd Wright, who resembled him. W. F. Rawnsley also presented a plaster version to Greenwich Hospital in 1899 (SCU0021) and there is another bronze version in the National Portrait Gallery.