Nydia, the Blind Flower Girl of Pompeii, (sculpture).

Nydia, the Blind Flower Girl of Pompeii, (sculpture).

Rogers, Randolph, 1825-1892, sculptor.

Nydia, the Blind Flower Girl of Pompeii, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Statue: Carrara marble; Base: Rose marble.

Sculpture: approx. 4 ft. 5 in. x 2 ft. 8 in. x 3 ft.; Base: approx. 1 ft. 10 in. x 2 ft 5 in. x 2 ft. 5 in. (2,000 lbs.).

(Rear base of statue:) Randolph Rogers Rome 1860 signed

A robed female figure based on Nydia, the Blind Flower Girl from Edward Bulwer-Lytton's 1834 novel, "The Last Days of Pompeii." She is seen running forward, with windswept drapery, her proper right hand holding a staff, and her proper left hand is held to her ear.

Figure female -- Full length

Literature -- Bulwer-Lytton -- Last Days of Pompeii

State of Being -- Disabled -- Blind

Occupation -- Vendor -- Florist

Dress -- Historic -- Classical Dress

Outdoor Sculpture -- Arkansas -- Pea Ridge

Hale, James C. & Joyce, Route 2, Box 97, Pea Ridge, Arkansas 72751

Formerly in the collection of Porter, Washington, Chicago, Illinois

Formerly in the collection of Barrack, Dallas, Springdale, Arkansas ca. 1950s.

Formerly located Diana Court Motel, U.S. 71 North, Springdale, Arkansas

Formerly located Mathias Boots, U.S. 71 North, Springdale, Arkansas until 1976.

The sculpture was originally in the collection of Washington Porter, Chicago, Illinois. It was purchased by local gallery owner Dallas Barrack and was moved to Springdale, Arkansas in the 1950s, and was installed outside Diana Motor Court Motel, owned by Toy and Bertha Neal. The Neals sold the Diana Motor Court Motel property to local real estate developer Sam Mathias who built a boot store on the property --Mathias Boots. The statue of Diana remained on the property until it was purchased by the Hales in 1976. While at the Diana Motor Court Motel property, and until 1976, the statue was known by the title "Diana." Research done at the time the Hale's acquired the work confirmed the subject of the work was Nydia, the Blind Girl of Pompeii by Randolph Rogers. When the Hales acquired the statue, the figure's was missing a finger, her staff, and part of her upper lip. The Hales had the statue restored and it is now installed under a gazebo to protect it. IAS files contain articles from Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene, July 21, 1976, pg. 1, 4; and August 25, 1976, pg. 4, and an article from the Pea Ridge Times, July 31, 2019.

Arkansas, AAUW, Wanda Roe, 1990.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Arkansas survey, 1993.

Pea Ridge Times, July 31, 2019.

Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene, Aug. 25, 1976.

Pea Ridge Times, July 31, 2019.

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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