It's one of the most well-known moments in American history: Ben Franklin attaching a key to a kite during a thunderstorm to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. Yet, like a centuries-long game of telephone, the details of the celebrated 1752 experiment have been exaggerated or misinterpreted through countless retellings, creating a popular myth that may be more fiction than fact. Look no further than the oil-on-canvas work "Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity From the Sky," painted by Benjamin West in the early 19th century. In the painting, a confident Franklin raises his fist to receive ...Read More