Study for figure of Dr. Benjamin Rush, in ‘Apotheosis of Pennsylvania’ mural at the state capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 

This study by Edwin Austin Abbey for the figure of Dr. Benjamin Rush, a prominent physician and Founding Father, is a preparatory drawing for the artist's monumental mural "Apotheosis of Pennsylvania". Executed in charcoal and chalk, the figure is rendered with a sense of realism, capturing Rush's thoughtful demeanor and the details of his clothing. The study demonstrates Abbey's process of developing the final composition of the mural, which celebrates the history and heroes of Pennsylvania.