Statue of Rollon, (sculpture).

Statue of Rollon, (sculpture).

Letellier, Arsene, d. 1884, sculptor.

Statue of Rollon, (sculpture).

Original carved 1863. Cast 1911. Rededicated May 17, 1990.

Digital Reference:

Figure: bronze; Base: granite.

Figure: approx. 104 x 34 x 37 in.; Base: approx. 71 x 48 x 48 in.

(Front of plinth:) ROLLON (Plaque on front of base, in English, French and Norwegian:) For/world peace/Normans/united/Rollo/born 860 AD/at More, Norway/founded the dukedom/of Normandy 911/his line, through/William the Conquerer,/became the royal house/of England 1066/and of Norway 1905 (In English only:) Monument a gift from Society Normany to the Norse of America 1912 (Lower proper right of sculpture:) Arsene Letellier 1863 signed

Standing male with proper left leg bent at the knee and foot forward. Torso is turned slightly to the proper left. His proper left arm bent at the elbow, he grasps the handle of a sword on his proper left side. His proper right arm extends downward, his index finger pointing to the ground. Figure is clothed in period Nordic garb, and has long, flowing hair and a large mustache.

Portrait male -- Rollo the Viking -- Full length

Ethnic -- Scandinavian

Occupation -- Other -- Aristocrat

Dress -- Ethnic -- Scandinavian Dress

Portrait male -- Rollon -- Full length

Portrait male -- Rolf, Gange -- Full length

Portrait male -- Rollo the Walker -- Full length

Portrait male -- Rolla -- Full length

Object -- Weapon -- Sword

Outdoor Sculpture -- North Dakota -- Fargo

Administered by Sons of Norway Lodge, 722 2nd Avenue North, Fargo, North Dakota 58102

Located 3rd Avenue & 8th Street, Fargo, North Dakota

Formerly in the collection of City of Fargo, Park adjacent to the Great Northern Train Depot, Fargo, North Dakota through 1989.

IAS files contain related article from Fargo Forum (Fargo, ND) July 13, 1912 and two other articles which provide some historical information. A nearby plaque reads: ROLF WAS BORN AT ALESUND, NORWAY, IN 860 A.D. THE SON OF/EARL OF MORE. HE WAS PRESENT AT THE CROWNING OF/HARALD FAIRHAIR, WHO UNITED NORWAY IN 872, AND WITH/WHOM HE LATER DISAGREED AND WAS BANISHED. A HUGE AND/POWERFUL MAN, HE WAS CALLED GANGE RALF, "WALKING/ROLF", AS NO HORSE COULD CARRY HIM IN FULL ARMOR./CONTINENTAL EUROPE WAS IN CHAOS AFTER THE BREAK-UP OF/CHARLEMAGNE'S EMPIRE AND ROLF LED REPEATED VIKING/FORAYS INTO THIS TURBULENT AREA. HE WON CONTROL NORMANDY IN 911 BECOMING THE FIRST DUKE THERE, WHERE/THE FRENCH CALLED HIM ROLLON.

HIS DIRECT DESCENDANT,/WILLIAM THE SEVENTH DUKE OF NORMANDY, CONQUERED/ENGLAND IN 1066 AND BECAME ITS KING. A THOUSAND YEARS AFTER ROLF TOOK NORMANDY, HIS DESCENDANTS INCLUDED/SEVENTEEN CROWNED HEADS IN EUROPE. THERE IS EVIDENCE/THAT BOTH GEORGE WASHINGTON AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN/COULD TRACE THEIR LINAGE BACK TO ROLF. THE NORWEGIAN/VIKING DIED IN 931 AND WAS BURIED IN ROUEN CATHEDRAL/IN NORMANDY. THIS STATUE AND ANOTHER IN ALESUND ARE DUPLICATES OF/THE ORIGINAL AT ROUEN WHICH WAS SCULPTED BY ARSENE/LETELLIER.

ROLF AND HIS FELLOW VIKINGS ARE RECOGNIZED/FOR THEIR DEDICATIONS OF JUST,/REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN NORMANDY, WHICH THEIR/DESCENDENTS LATER CARRIED TO ENGLAND. NURTURED/THERE FOR CENTURIES, THEY FOUND THEIR WAY TO AMERICA/AND WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE/UNITED STATES BY ENLIGHTENED MEN OF ENGLISH DESCENT.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, North Dakota survey, 1992.

Fargo Forum (Fargo, ND), July 13, 1912.

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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