Governor Patrick Henry

This oil on canvas painting of Patrick Henry is an exact copy after the famous portrait of Patrick Henry done in 1815 by Thomas Sully (1783–1872). It was commissioned by author William Wirt to be used as the frontispiece for his book, "Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry" (1817).

After the book's publishing, Wirt gave the portrait to John Henry, Patrick Henry's son, then residing at Red Hill. John Henry's mother and older siblings attested that this was the best likeness of Patrick Henry they had seen. Chief Justice John Marshall, Henry's contemporary, wrote of the portrait on December 30, 1816, "I have been shown a painting of the late Mr. Henry painted by Mr. Sully ... which I think a good likeness."