John Rogers Studio
Encyclopedia
The John Rogers Studio and Museum is the preserved studio in New Canaan
, Connecticut
, of sculptor John Rogers
, a popular American
artist called "the people's sculptor" in the latter 19th century. Run as a museum by the New Canaan Historical Society, the studio houses a collection of "Rogers Groups"—plaster statuettes often depicting two or more people. The display area has been reconfigured to reflect the feeling of the artist's studio.
Rogers Groups often depicted people interacting with each other in a sentimental scene. According to the National Historic Landmarks Program of the National Park Service, the museum's collection is "one of the finest collections of Rogers groups in the nation".
The studio is a Gothic-Victorian gable-roofed building built in 1878. John Rogers's popularity stemmed from the way his statuary groups created scenes of everyday life with a sentimental feel that has been compared to the much later Norman Rockwell
. Instead of working in bronze and marble, he sculpted in more affordable plaster, painted the color of putty to hide dust.
Rogers was prolific as well of popular. During his 33-year career he produced almost 80,000 plaster copies of his 86 "Rogers Groups." His statuettes decorated Victorian parlors throughout the United States.
Sculpture on display includes "The Traveling Magician", showing a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat for two children, and "The Neighboring Pews", depicting a moment among people in church. "Union Refugees" depicts a scene from the Civil War
.
The studio was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1965.,, In 2003 a $95,000 matching grant under the Save America's Treasures program included financing for a climate-control and air-filtration system to ensure long-term preservation of both the building and the collection.
The museum's location in downtown New Canaan is listed as being at 13 Oenoke Ridge (the location of the New Canaan Historical Society).
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, of sculptor John Rogers
John Rogers (sculptor)
John Rogers was an American sculptor who produced very popular, relatively inexpensive figurines in the latter 19th century.He became famous for his small genre sculptures, popularly termed "Rogers Groups", which were mass produced in cast plaster...
, a popular American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist called "the people's sculptor" in the latter 19th century. Run as a museum by the New Canaan Historical Society, the studio houses a collection of "Rogers Groups"—plaster statuettes often depicting two or more people. The display area has been reconfigured to reflect the feeling of the artist's studio.
Rogers Groups often depicted people interacting with each other in a sentimental scene. According to the National Historic Landmarks Program of the National Park Service, the museum's collection is "one of the finest collections of Rogers groups in the nation".
The studio is a Gothic-Victorian gable-roofed building built in 1878. John Rogers's popularity stemmed from the way his statuary groups created scenes of everyday life with a sentimental feel that has been compared to the much later Norman Rockwell
Norman Rockwell
Norman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening...
. Instead of working in bronze and marble, he sculpted in more affordable plaster, painted the color of putty to hide dust.
Rogers was prolific as well of popular. During his 33-year career he produced almost 80,000 plaster copies of his 86 "Rogers Groups." His statuettes decorated Victorian parlors throughout the United States.
Sculpture on display includes "The Traveling Magician", showing a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat for two children, and "The Neighboring Pews", depicting a moment among people in church. "Union Refugees" depicts a scene from the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
The studio was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1965.,, In 2003 a $95,000 matching grant under the Save America's Treasures program included financing for a climate-control and air-filtration system to ensure long-term preservation of both the building and the collection.
The museum's location in downtown New Canaan is listed as being at 13 Oenoke Ridge (the location of the New Canaan Historical Society).
External links
- http://www.nchistory.org/ - New Canaan Historical Society
- John Rogers Studio, 10 Cherry Street, New Canaan, Fairfield County, CT: 5 photos and 2 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey