A man who works with his hands is a laborer, a man who works with his hands and brain
is a craftsman: but a man who works with his hands, his brain, and his heart is an artist."Louis Niser
Our third great uncle, Randolph Rogers, was born in Waterloo, New York, on July 6, 1825. His parents, John and Sarah Rogers, moved the family to Ann Arbor, Michigan, when the population of the town was only 830 residents.
"In 1837, at the age of twelve, he was apprenticed in the bakery of Calvin and D. W. Bliss, where he remained for three or four years. His first inclination toward sculpture occurred during his apprenticeship. A reporter for the Boston Transcript recalled: "He secured a place in the bakery of the town, at this time in his life, the ambition to become something more than a baker begun to possess his soul, since besides acquiring the ability to shape dough into bread and cake, he learned to fashion various figures such as do pertain to prehistoric art." SOURCE: Randolph Rogers American Sculptor In Rome. By Millard F. Rogers Jr.
When Randolph was about 22 yrs. of age he moved to NY. He wanted to find work in the art field. He thought he might be employed as an engraver. He had no luck in finding employment as an artist and after 3 months went to work in a dry goods store owned by John Steward and Liscurgis Edgarton. Whenever he had time to spare, Randolph would spend that time making busts and small statues, carving them from soap or plaster. Rogers modeled a bust of his employer, John Steward, and one day decided to show it to him. Mr. Steward was quite surprised, mainly he was startled to find that his clerk posessed such talent. Another clerk who worked with Rogers told, in later years, of the conversation that followed. Mr. Steward said something very similar to this.: "Well Randolph, if you think this is your forte I'll put up the necessary money for your education and for your art abroad. You can equip yourself with such clothing as you will want, going to my tailor, and you may take anything you may require. When you are ready, I will give you the money you need."
The Sentinel
Cincinnati Ohio
U S Civil War Statue: 1864
Bronze, 10 ft. Base, 9 ft.
Sculpted by Randolph Rogers
THE TRUANT: 1860
ABT. 3.6 ft. tall
The Lost Pleiade
The Last Arrow
Bronze
So Randolph Rogers' career as a sculptor began in 1848, with help from his employers, both Mr. John Steward and Mr. Egarton. With their generous help, Randolph went to Rome, Italy. He studied under Lorenzo Barteloni, one of the world's great sculptors. There is no doubt Uncle Randolph was blessed with enormous talent and had a work ethic that enabled him to become one of the best Neo Classic Sculptors of his time. With the proceeds of the bust called "Night" and a kneeling figure called "Ruth" he repayed his benefactors their loans to him.
Randolph soon fell in love with Rome. He spent the rest of his life dividing his time between Italy and the United States. In 1850 he opened a studio in New York City. In 1853, he received a commission for a statue of John Adams for Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. At this time, he also received the commission for the "Bronze Doors" which now stand at the entrance to the Halls of Congress in Washington D.C. He returned to Rome in 1855 and continued. his art. On a visit to Virginia he met and married Rosa Gibson. She became the mother to his nine children. Family members, alive today, remember how their grandfather, James A. West, told them of the visit of his Uncle Randolph to his home in Bellwood, NE, while crossing the country from San Francisco to MI in the late 1870's. James and other members of the family often said what a kind and understanding father he was to his children, and how much time he devoted to them.
Randolph is described as a large and well built man of great energy and unsparing industry. He was dark eyed, with dark hair and a long beard. He was noted for his friendly personality and was an amateur actor. He was decorated with the order of Cavalier della Corona D'Italian in 1884. He is buried beside his wife in Rome, Italy.
SOURCE:
From the personal papers of Helen Taylor Thomas,his great grand niece.
A Partial List of Randolph Roger's Work
Most well known: The Bronze doors of the Halls of Congress depicting the discovery
of America by Christopher Columbus.
NYDIA; Art Institute, Chicago, IL
RUTH; Metropolitan Museum NY
JOHN ADAMS; Cambridge, MA
LINCOLN; Philadelphia, PA
MILITARY MEMORIALS in Detroit MI, in Cincinnati, OH, in Providence, RI
THE LAST ARROW 1886
THE SOLDIERS OF THE LINE.
THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT; Worcester, MA
Many sculptures are in the hands of individuals and private museums.
The Columbian Doors: Located at the east entrance of the Rotunda, Hall of Congress, Washington , D.C.
THE NEO-CLASSIC SCULPTOR
RANDOLPH ROGERS
TAKEN ABT. 1861
A Few of The Works of Randolph Rogers
Michigan Soldiers' & Sailors ' Monument
John Adams
President of the United States.
My thanks to R. Randa who emailed the title that I was missing to the sculpture above, "The Lost Pleiade"
CARPENTER/DAVIES & Related Families
Additional historical information and the genealogy of the Randolph Roger's family is being added on a continuing basis to the web page
d. 1892 Rome, Italy
