52222
A sculpture of Major General John Fulton Reynolds created by John Rogers in 1884 outside the City Hall in the Centre City District in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
In 1863 Major General John Fulton Reynolds was killed by a sharpshooter’s bullet on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. He was the highest-ranking Union officer killed in the battle, dying instantly from a sharpshooter's bullet while leading his troops to form a defensive line. His decisive actions on July 1, 1863, blunted the Confederate advance and are considered a key factor in the Union's eventual victory at Gettysburg.
Over eighteen years after in 1863 , Joseph Temple of Philadelphia offered $25,000 toward a sculpture to commemorate the fallen Pennsylvanian and the state’s participation in the Civil War.
The artist chosen was John Rogers, who was known for his parlor sculptures, popularly known as “convention groupings.” Rogers had never produced a sculpture of this scale before, and initially hesitated. He ultimately took on the project, and began studying the anatomy of horses and collecting information about the general.
He aimed to “represent General Reynolds in front of the battlefield as he was on the first day of Gettysburg. The horse is startled and shying away from the noise and danger in the direction he is looking, while the General is pointing to the same spot and giving the direction to his aides at his side.”
Information Source:
www.associationforpublicart.org/artwork/major-general-joh...
52222
A sculpture of Major General John Fulton Reynolds created by John Rogers in 1884 outside the City Hall in the Centre City District in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
In 1863 Major General John Fulton Reynolds was killed by a sharpshooter’s bullet on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. He was the highest-ranking Union officer killed in the battle, dying instantly from a sharpshooter's bullet while leading his troops to form a defensive line. His decisive actions on July 1, 1863, blunted the Confederate advance and are considered a key factor in the Union's eventual victory at Gettysburg.
Over eighteen years after in 1863 , Joseph Temple of Philadelphia offered $25,000 toward a sculpture to commemorate the fallen Pennsylvanian and the state’s participation in the Civil War.
The artist chosen was John Rogers, who was known for his parlor sculptures, popularly known as “convention groupings.” Rogers had never produced a sculpture of this scale before, and initially hesitated. He ultimately took on the project, and began studying the anatomy of horses and collecting information about the general.
He aimed to “represent General Reynolds in front of the battlefield as he was on the first day of Gettysburg. The horse is startled and shying away from the noise and danger in the direction he is looking, while the General is pointing to the same spot and giving the direction to his aides at his side.”
Information Source:
www.associationforpublicart.org/artwork/major-general-joh...