Neighboring Pews
Can I see it?
Unknown
Where is “Neighboring Pews” now? Collection: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. Unknown.
Washington, D.C., United States
The owner is known; whether it is on view today is not.
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
Scenes of everyday life frequently inspired the work of John Rogers. In Neighboring Pews, a gentleman flirtatiously directs a young woman to the correct page in her hymnal as an older lady looks on with an expression Rogers called "[indignation] at the preference shown." It seems that no one pays attention to the ceremony at hand—a young boy in the front pew tries on the man's hat and gloves, oblivious to the scene unfolding behind him. Rogers sent pictures of his work to newspapers with the hopes that they would write articles to promote his art. This often worked, and he was one of the first artists to use images to sell his work. Neighboring Pews was first released in time for Christmas 1883, and newspapers advertised it as an excellent gift, especially for pastors.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Details
- Accession number
- 2004.33.1
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Image: Smithsonian American Art Museum — CC0
