Reliefs on the Memorial Bell Tower, (sculpture).

Reliefs on the Memorial Bell Tower, (sculpture).

Rockwell, Peter, 1936-2020, sculptor.

Rockwell, Norman, 1894-1978, designer.

Dirlam, Arland A., architect.

R. E. Bean Construction Company, contractor.

Reliefs on the Memorial Bell Tower, (sculpture).

1964-1965. Dedicated May 28, 1967.

Digital Reference:

4 panels. Each panel: approx. 110 x 63 x 3 in.

(On lower proper right corner of west and east panels:) NR/PR (On lower proper right corner of north panel:) PR/NR signed

Four bronze bas-relief panels attached high on the four sides of the Memorial Bell Tower, "a national tribute to all American women who sacrificed their lives in the wars of our country." The panel on the east side depicts the heads and shoulders of five female figures, all seen in proper right profile. At the bottom is a riveter. She wears a blouse and overalls and has a protective facemask raised over her head. She carries a riveter over her proper left shoulder. Above and behind her is a journalist wearing a hat and holding a notepad in her proper left hand and a pencil in her proper right hand. In front of her is an entertainer, speaking into a microphone. At the top of the relief in back is a Salvation Army worker. She wears a uniform and bonnet and holds a tambourine in her hand. In front of her is a Sister of Charity, wearing a habit and large bonnet. Her hands are clasped in prayer.

The north panel depicts Clara Barton helping a wounded Civil War soldier. She stands on the proper left and wears a long dress and apron. The soldier has his proper left arm around her shoulders; his proper right arm hangs in a sling. He is dressed in uniform and walks with his head bent. Behind the two figures, high in the background, are troops on a battlefield.

The west panel depicts five women from the waist up. They are shown in proper left profile. Each is dressed in the uniform of a different branch of the armed services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Corps and Coast Guard. They all wear handbags strapped over their proper left shoulders. An American flag serves as a backdrop to the scene.

The south panel depicts a pioneer woman and child. The woman wears period costume including a long dress and apron. Her hair is pulled back in a bun and she holds a long-barrel rifle with both hands. The barrel of the gun is tilted down. She stands in the doorway of a log cabin and gazes off to the proper left. Behind the woman, on her proper right side, is a young girl. She wears a dress and holds her mother's skirt with her proper right hand. Both the girl and the woman are barefoot.

Figure group -- Female -- Bust

Occupation -- Industry -- Manufacturing

Occupation -- Writer -- Journalist

Occupation -- Religion -- Missionary

Performing Arts -- Theater -- Performer

Occupation -- Religion -- Nun

Portrait female -- Barton, Clara -- Full length

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

History -- United States -- Civil War

Occupation -- Medicine -- Nurse

State of Being -- Illness -- Wound

State of Being -- Evil -- War

Figure group -- Female & Child

History -- United States -- Westward Expansion

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Architecture -- Detail -- Door

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Hampshire -- Rindge

Architectural component

Administered by Cathedral of the Pines, Board of Trustees, Cathedral Avenue, Rindge, New Hampshire 03461

Located Cathedral of the Pines, Memorial Bell Tower, Rindge, New Hampshire

Norman Rockwell did the drawings for the bronze relief panels and his son, Peter, sculptured the reliefs and supervised the castings. The initial concept for the sculpture and tower was from Dr. Douglas Sloane, founder of the Cathedral of the Pines. The Memorial Bell Tower is dedicated to American women who made the supreme sacrifice in the wars of this country. IAS files contain copies of related material including "The Memorial Bell Tower" dedication pamphlet; related excerpts from "Rindge New Hampshire 1768-1968 Bicentennial", Rindge: 1968; and the Rindge History Committee "Town on the Border: Rindge, New Hampshire 1874-1988", West Kennebunk, ME: 1989, pg. 124.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Hampshire survey, 1993.

SOS Assessment Award, 2000.

Inventory staff, 2001.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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