Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Rogers, Randolph, 1825-1892, sculptor.

Stone, Alfred, architect.

Batterson, James Goodwin, 1823-1901, contractor.

Canfield, A. R., contractor.

Royal Foundry, founder.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, (sculpture).

Designed Oct. 1866. 1871. Dedicated Sept. 1871. Relocated 1906.

Digital Reference:

Figures and reliefs: bronze; Base: Westerly granite.

Central figure: approx. 11 x 7 x 7 ft.; Reliefs: life-size; Base: approx. 36 x 20 x 20 ft. (17 tons).

(Front and sides of base: illegible transcription)

The central bronze figure is a female standing at the top of a shaft that is the upper section of the granite base. She represents America Militant, wearing a helmet and a long dress. Her arms are stretched out in front of her, holding a wreath in each of her hands. Standing at the corners of a wider section of base, well-below the central figure, are four figures representing the different branches of military service. On the lower tier and next to the four figures are bronze bas-reliefs and honor rolls.

History -- United States -- Military history

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Allegory -- Other -- Triumph

Allegory -- Quality -- Harmony

Allegory -- Civic -- War

Allegory -- Place -- America

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- History

Object -- Other -- Wreath

Outdoor Sculpture -- Rhode Island -- Providence

Administered by City of Providence, Department of Parks, Dalrymple Boathouse, Roger Williams Park, Providence, Rhode Island 02905

Located Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island

The sculpture, which cost $57,000 was funded by the State of Rhode Island. It elaborate design is based on Thomas Crawford's "Washington Monument" in Richmond. Randolph Rogers designed the monument; he was the sculptor of the bronze elements, which were cast at Royal Foundry. Alfred Stone, architect, supervised the preparation and erection of the granite base. A. R. Canfield was responsible for erecting the base. James Goodwin Batterson was the contractor who furnished the granite. The sculpture was originally installed at the western end of Exchange Place (Providence) and surrouned by an iron fence. When moved to its current site on Kennedy Plaza in 1906, a second set of steps was added. The relocation cost $20,000.

IAS files contain copy from Welcome Arnold Greene's "The Providence Plantations," 1886, pg. 198, which discusses dedication and describes monument in detail; and Robert Freeman & Vivienne Lasky's "Hidden Treasure: Public Sculpture in Providence," Providence: Rhode Island Bicentennial Foundation, 1980, pg. 41-42, which compares the former and current locations of the monument. IAS files also contain transcription of nearby plaque.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Rhode Island survey, 1993.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, RI0032, 1989.

Monumental News, Feb. 1903, pg. 120.

Freeman, Robert, and Vivienne Lasky, "Hidden Treasure: Public Sculpture in Providence," Providence: Rhode Island Bicentennial Foundation, 1980, pg. 41-42.

Greene, Welcome Arnold, "The Providence Plantations," 1886, pg. 198.

Freeman, Robert, and Vivienne Lasky, "Hidden Treasure: Public Sculpture in Providence," Providence: Rhode Island Bicentennial Foundation, 1980, pg. 42.

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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