Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-21
AGRoUP BY JOHN ROGERS, N. A.
The "Landing OF the Norsemen," Half
the sire of Life.


The landing Of Left. the son OF Elrick.
or of some other kOrseman, on the shores
Of Vnland the Good has been taken by
Mr.. John Rogers. the sculptor, for the
subject of his latest group. boat built
with overlapping boards like the galleys
found IN scandinavian peat boys. and
having a dragons head, like certain ships
of the Viking men, has been run ashore
and three discOyerers have stepped from
the prov. Unlike certain sculptor at the
present salon in Paris. Mr.. Rogers does not
give the whole boat. but leaves the greater
part to the Imagination. The three Morse
men stand in diverse attitudes about this
prov.
First. and with left hand resting on the
DRAGONS head, stands the leader with a
barred headpiece-p part metal, part felt
a long beard. flowing locks. and bushy
eyebrows, his sword in his right hand and
his eyes fixed firmly on some enemy.
Doubtless the hateful Skraelings have
seen the boat approach and are making
hostile advances On the side of the PROV,
with one foot still inside. IL NOrsoman OF
lower rank While the leader wears coat
of rlng-maIl, a sword belt, and a wooden
scabbard. and "a horn that fits to the
round of his torso, the heDchman wears
"A leathern dOublet and carries round
wooden shield on his left arm ard an
axe over his shoulder. HIS face ~ more
scOwling tnan firm, and his eyebrows and
beard seem to bristle with rage. Ayounger
man, who may have been handling tho
oars. for he ia nude to the waist. reaches
back 10 pick up his leather dOublet, and
thrust il over his head. His bent nude
back is well modelled. and proves happy
contrast to the other figures, which are
erect and clad. He has thrust his long
spear into the sand, leaning 1t against the
PROV. and this spear dominates the
group.
There is but one point from which the
group looks deficient, and that point, ls,
of course, the opening made by the inner
part of the bow of the abbreviated boat.
IL Is partly closed, however, by the leg OF
the older follower. which remains within.
and by a shield not yet grasped by the
Younger man. Tho group Is uncOmmonlv
good in ITS manly, simple straightforward
ness its masculinity, IN fact. Apart from
the point mentioned the grouping Is fine :;
1t is varied and natural. None Of tho
figures Is unnecessary all help the scene.
I'm some respects IT recalls early works by
Mr.. Rogers. but il is cleverer in modelling.
The figures are nearly half the size OF
life and, therefore, depart from the groups
which have made Mr.. Rogers one OF the
most popular OF sculptors in the past. The
terra-cOtta groups were meant Tor the
house. this work. however, is designed for
casting IN bronze and Is appropriate to
large public halls or tor placing near
walks in public gardens. IL might ind
place on bridge or terrace, wherever,
in fact. people would pass 1t naturally
somewhat close at hand. There Is great
field for SINGLE figures and groups of TINS
size in our cities; they would relieve the
monotony of big statues and prove faI
more enjoyable and interesting TO the peo-
plethan more distant sculpture of a larger
slzeNnd meaning less easily and Imine
II rraann1