KEY TO ROTHERMEL'S PICTURE OF PATRICK HENRY, DELIVERING HIS CELEBRATED SPEECH IN THE HOUSE OF BURGESS OF VIRGINIA IN THE YEAR 1765.[caption title].

A rare promotional work advertising a new engraving by Alfred Jones, after Rothermel's famous painting, commemorating Patrick Henry's famous "If this be treason, make the most of it." speech. The promotional includes a key to the figures in the engraving, a description of it, the object and plan of the Art Union, and a list of officers and subscribers for the engraving. In 1851 the Philadelphia Art Union decided to commission one original painting from a notable American artist per year, also commission an engraving of said painting, and sell subscriptions for the engraving and award the artist. The Union was "deeply impressed with the utility, necessity, wisdom, and moral influence of cherishing a national spirit, in the patronage of the Arts of Design, in the United States, and a national pride in the excellence of her living artists." P.F. Rothermel was selected to produce the first of these paintings. By January 1852, Rohermel's seven-by-six-foot painting was completed, and the Art Union Reporter pronounced it a "splendid effort of genius." The present work describes the painting as "Mr. Rothermel's masterpiece." OCLC records just two copies, at the University of Virginia and the New-York Historical Society Library (the latter listed under the title on p.[3]). We locate additional copies at the Library Company of Philadelphia and the American Antiquarian Society. OCLC 1009149111, 58788575. Illustrated. Small chip to top margin, a few marginal stab holes, soft creasing. Very good.…