, 1862-11-12
A chicago SCULPTOR Abroad.

All Of our ert.fovinR readers Will remember I
JOIN Rogers, the young sculptor, who for
time Was employed In the county surveyors
Office In this city, and the charming little sub
ject, "Watcriug the Hone," which he
nodded In clay and donated to the Chicago
Historical Society. Mr.. Rogers Is at present
in Nc9 ycrk City, where he has opened
studio ard devoted himself exclusively to his
art, for which be is SO singularly adapted.
Even In that city Of imperious criticism he is
making his mark, and has already challenged
the admiration OF critics and conuoIsseura.
BE is best known BY his beautiful little statu-
cites In clay, especially IS The Picket Guard
nEd SbaspshooteH." We arc glad to learn
however that he has turned his attention more
Exclusively to marble. One Of his efforts IN
this more stubborn material is called "Cast1es
in the Air." and Is a charming conception
te1icitously exeented. 1t represents young
girl, a village beauty, standing in graceful
attitude, with thoughtful brow, neditating
upon the sunny future yet to be, while the
water oyerAows the pail beside her, aud runs
trick1inp the grasses at her feet The model
ling Of this figure is nearly fau1t1ess, the pose
exceedingly graceful, and the entire express
sion conveys just Idea Of what country
lass should be.
Mr. Rogers WAS born In Salem, October
50th, 1929. His parents. who are both living,
now reside in Roxbury. Afterleavlng school,
at the age Of sixteen, he was placed in dry
goods jobbing house in Boston, where he
| remained until 1877, when he obtained sita-
ati=n in the Office Of the Boston Water
Works. After years. time, having seriously
Injured his eyes by oyertasking them, he
left this place to make trip to Spain
On his return he entered machine shop, t
learn the trade Of machfnist. Hs passei
srccessiveIy, during period Of seven years
through al the stages Of this business frou
the work bench to the draughtlng desk, ant
only lef. in 1856, when an offer was made t,
him, which he accepted, to take charge OF
ilroad machine shop at Hannibal. Missouri
where he first commenced modelling in clay
He remained there but short time, and the
set ont for Italy to study his art. He II
/ manned there about eight months, aud retur1
: ing home took = position in the County SUI
t vcyo1's Office in this city, position which b
: filed With great accep:abi1ity. About yes
, since be removed to New York, and opeae
his studio on Broadway.
1 Of Mr.. Rogers merits, the Ney York Con
E mereial Advertiser, from which re glenn Il
above facts, says:
The perception Of beauty and Of ROMANO
! worthy ct thc artists attention, in rustic al
t, conmon llie, which Sir Rogers go eminent
. shows, as well as the power to reproduce 6
. 1rctlrcly what his artist eye sees, which
7 has shown l,isuseH TO possess, give him :
n honorable place among our frw truly Amel
E can artists. That be docs not need to go
- Italy or to ancient times for subjects shot
1t Lin to possess an original mind; and tt
= quick csc which has caught already sevcz
Is mcst picturesque and pathetic passages fro
% our present struggle, mud the sEillul ha'
= which has go ably Exed these, give promise
still greater and more enduring works fro
this young 1nsu, and promise also that he "
c mt s.ek slar, hut rather near at home, for l
!. subjects.