Study for Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses

Name/Title

Study for "Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses"

Entry/Object ID

84.1

Description

Pen and ink, ink wash, and pencil on paper. Study for Peter Rothermel's painting, "Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses" (76.5.1). Patrick Henry is standing, feet apart, hands raised on both sides of his head. He has a coat and a vest on. 1st man to the left is standing, has a sword lying on the table where a man is seated. Two men are seared at a table behind the first two men. To the right another man is seated in a chair. In the background are several men (members of the House) who are much lighter than Patrick Henry and the five men in the foreground. One has his sword raised (on the right). To the left and toward the middle, a man is seated in a chair that appears to be on a platform.

Type of Drawing

Wash (diluted ink)

Artwork Details

Medium

Ink, Pencil, Paper

Collection

Peter F. Rothermel Collection

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Rothermel, Peter F.

Role

Artist

Date made

circa 1851

Time Period

19th Century

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Location

Obverse, bottom edge

Transcription

Sketch for ___ ___ ___ speech of Patrick Henry at Capitol ___

Language

English

Material/Technique

Pencil

Dimensions

Width

11-3/4 in

Length

9 in

Provenance

Notes

This pen and ink drawing was created in 1851 as a preliminary study by Peter F. Rothermel (1812–1895) for his work, "Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses" (76.5.1). Although the final product differed significantly from this study, there are several similarities between the two. On January 11, 1984, Peter F. Rothermel IV, the great-grandson of the artist, placed the study on loan to the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation. In October 2022, the study was formally accessioned into the collection.