Ruth Gleaning
Randolph Rogers (American, 1825–1892)
Marble
18w x 17d x 34.5h in.
Randolph Rogers was one of the most prominent American sculptors of the 19th century. Born in Waterloo, New York, he trained in Italy under the influence of the renowned Florentine sculptor Lorenzo Bartolini. Rogers settled permanently in Rome in 1848, becoming a vital part of its thriving art scene.
Ruth Gleaning, Rogers’s first major biblical work, portrays a moment from the Old Testament Book of Ruth (2:1–13). The sculpture depicts Ruth, a Moabite widow, kneeling as she gathers grain in the fields of Boaz, who would become her husband. The piece reflects the dual influences of classical art and Victorian sensibilities: Ruth’s idealized face and serene expression evoke Greek and Roman traditions, while the intricate details of the grain and foliage cater to the Victorian preference for realism.
This exquisite work demonstrates Rogers’s ability to balance idealism with naturalism, earning him recognition as one of the leading sculptors of his time. Another example of this sculpture is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
