Note by Peter F. Rothermel

Letter

-

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

Note by Peter F. Rothermel

Entry/Object ID

76.48.2

Description

Handwritten notes of Peter Rothermel in pen for his painting, "Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses" (76.5.1). The front also has a sketch on the right edge in the center, perhaps of leaves. There are penciled mathematical calculations on the back left side.

Collection

Peter F. Rothermel Collection

Transcription

Transcription

Patrick Henry 1. Nearly 6 feet in height!! 2. Text does not justify putting upon him a cloak — nor full dress — nor such as lawyers have ever worn at the Bar — nor statesman in Legislative assemblies etc. 3. Was he not a hand store clerk — wheat Farmer Lawyer 4. Figure resembles John Sergeant — 5 feet 4 or 6 — The picture him full of force and ability —

Language

English

Dimensions

Width

5-1/2 in

Length

8-1/4 in

Provenance

Notes

This page of notes was written by artist Peter F. Rothermel (1812–1895) in preparation for creating his painting, "Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses" (76.5.1). These notes primarily consist of Rothermel's thoughts about portraying Henry's figure during his speech introducing the Virginia Stamp Act Resolves: his expression, clothes, and stance. Rothermel notes Henry's figure resembles that of John Sergeant (1779–1852), a politician from Pennsylvania. Sergeant was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 1815 and served three separate terms until 1841. The PHMF purchased the page from Saul Lapp on March 3, 1969, along with Rothermel's 1851 study "wash drawing" (76.48.1). On January 25, 2023, this handwritten note was given its accession number, separate from the study drawing but given as part of the same collection.