''Roger Williams'' is an 1872
marble sculpture
Marble has been the preferred material for stone monumental sculpture since ancient times, with several advantages over its more common geological "parent" limestone, in particular the ability to absorb light a small distance into the surface be ...
of
Roger Williams
Roger Williams (21 September 1603between 27 January and 15 March 1683) was an English-born New England Puritan minister, theologian, and author who founded Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation ...
by
Franklin Simmons, installed in the
United States Capitol, in
Washington, D.C., as part of the
National Statuary Hall Collection. It is one of two statues donated by the state of
Rhode Island. The sculpture was unveiled by Senator
William Sprague of Rhode Island on January 9, 1872.
Simmons received the commission to execute the statue in 1868 and moved to
Rome to produce the work. After setting up his studio there and working on the statue for two years Simmons decided to remain in Italy.
Lorado Taft in his ''The History of American Sculpture'' describes the statue as "a credible work, which may well have ranked for years among the best in
that collection".
The statue is one of three that Simmons has placed in the collection,
[Viles, Philip H., ''National Statuary Hall: Guidebook for a Walking Tour'', Published by Philip H. Viles, Tulsa, OK, 1997 p. 114] the others being ''
William King William King may refer to:
Arts
*Willie King (1943–2009), American blues guitarist and singer
*William King (author) (born 1959), British science fiction author and game designer, also known as Bill King
*William King (artist) (1925–2015), Ame ...
'', from Maine and ''
Francis Harrison Pierpont'' from West Virginia.
See also
*
1872 in art
Events from the year 1872 in art.
Events
* February 20 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art opens in New York City.
* June – American-born painter James McNeill Whistler exhibits '' Arrangement in Grey and Black: The Artist's Mother'', painted t ...
References
External links
*
1872 establishments in Washington, D.C.
1872 sculptures
Marble sculptures in Washington, D.C.
Monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C.
Williams, Roger
Sculptures of men in Washington, D.C.
Governor of Rhode Island
{{US-sculpture-stub