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

Preliminary study completed by Peter F. Rothermel (1812–1895) for his painting, "Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses" (1851). Rothermel completed the study using pen and ink, ink wash, and pencil on paper. Although the perspective and the poses of Henry and the burgesses in the final painting differed significantly from this study, several similarities exist between the two.

In both the final painting and study, Henry stands at the center of the House of Burgesses gesturing upward, Speaker of the House John Robinson is shown seated in the speaker’s chair, and a British officer is shown grasping a sword.