Rogers Group, Council of War

Description

The John Rogers Group, The Council of War, features Lincoln, Stanton and Grant. There are three versions on this grouping. The first and second versions obscure Stanton’s hands behind Lincoln’s head. In that position, it appeared that Stanton could be holding a pistol to the back of Lincoln’s head. In this version, Stanton in obviously cleaning his glasses. Lincoln is seated, holding a map; a standing Grant on the left looks at Stanton, who is standing on the right.

Modeled in clay by Rogers himself; then cast in bronze. From the bronze,  molds were made. The groupings would then be  cast in plaster.

After Lincoln’s death, Stanton complimented the work:  “In form and feature it surpasses any effort to embody the expression of that great man which I have seen.”  Robert Lincoln said that it was the best likeness of his father he had seen of his father, too. Rogers became one of the 19^th century’s most popular sculptor, producing over 80 works, mainly of everyday life; 12 were on Civil War themes.

Lovingly restored by a long-time John Rogers specialist. This one is in exceptional condition, with a rich tonality, as bright, if not more bright than an original!

(Rogers Group) Rogers, John.  THE COUNCIL OF WAR.  NY:  Circa 1868.  Plaster.  24″ high; 15″ wide; 13″ deep. Professionally repainted in the original bright putty tone. 

More About John Rogers

The clay and plaster statue groups made by John Rogers (1829-1904) from 1859 until 1892 were so appealing in late Victorian America that “scarcely a family of reasonable means and taste did not possess one.”

John Rogers portrayed ordinary, everyday, urban and rural people doing ordinary, everyday things. Through his Rogers Groups he offered an unrivaled transcript of the manners, sports, amusements, social customs, domestic interests, costumes, and even modes of furnishing of the period.

John Rogers made statues of Civil War soldiers, family groups, literary topics, theater scenes and historical figures. His statues ranged from eight to forty-six inches tall. Between 1860 and 1893 John Rogers sculpted approximately 85 different patented groups of statuary.  During that period, some 25 workmen in his New York factory turned out thousands of plaster castings of his works.  Of some subjects executed by John Rogers, only a few copies were cast and sold.  Of others, thousands were sold. In John Rogers’ 30 year career, the artist sold over a million dollars of sculpture, a lot of money for art in those days.  It is estimated that a total of 100,000 casting of his groups were produced during John Rogers’ lifetime.  By the 1880s, it seemed that families who did not have a John Rogers Group were not conforming to the times. John Rogers statuary were moderately priced, averaging $14.00 a piece. Roger’s sculptures became a nationwide vogue, and were seen in virtually every art and bookstore window. The appearance of a new John Rogers was a major event covered by reporters across the nation.

Abraham Lincoln Book Shop featured this Rogers Group on What’s In The Box?