Patrick Henry Delivering His Celebrated Speech in the House of Burgesses, Virginia
1852
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1852
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Patrick Henry Delivering His Celebrated Speech in the House of Burgesses, Virginia is a 1852 by Alfred Jones, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This crowded scene shows a group of men in a room with stone walls and stairs. One man stands dramatically, gesturing with his right hand while holding a paper. Others sit or lean forward, listening intently. Some people on the stairs watch from above, and a few hold hats or books. The lighting is bright on the speaker, casting shadows on the faces around him. Notice how the artist uses strong light and dark contrasts to focus attention on the speaker. This technique makes his face stand out against the dimmer background. Want to see more? Check out how chiaroscuro works in other famous artworks.
