Ruth Gleaning

Art Historical Context

**Ruth Gleaning** (modeled 1850; carved 1855 or 1856) by sculptor Randolph Rogers captures a poignant biblical scene from the Book of Ruth. In this marble sculpture, now housed in The Met's American Wing, Ruth is depicted as a graceful female nude, bent in the humble act of gleaning grain from the fields—a symbol of devotion and resilience. Standing at nearly four feet tall (45 3/4 x 23 3/4 x 24 in.), the exemplifies mid-19th-century neoc ideals, blending classical anatomy with moral storytelling. Rogers, a prominent American artist who trained and worked in Rome, mastered marble carving to evoke smooth, luminous skin and dynamic poses that convey quiet strength. The delayed carving from the original model highlights the meticulous process of transforming plaster sketches into enduring stone, a technique rooted in Renaissance traditions adapted by 19th-century expatriates. Gifted to the Museum in 1899 by James Douglas, this piece reflects America's growing appreciation for sculpture as a vehicle for virtuous narratives amid industrialization. Visitors will appreciate how **Ruth Gleaning** bridges ancient scripture and modern idealism, inviting reflection on themes of labor, faith, and feminine beauty in American art.

About the Artist

Randolph Rogers · 1825–1892

Randolph Rogers (1825–1892) was a prominent American Neoclassical sculptor whose career bridged the worlds of popular genre sculpture and grand public commissions. Born on July 6, 1825, in Waterloo, New York, the son of a carpenter and millwright, Rogers grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after his family relocated westward in pursuit of opportunity. Showing early aptitude for drawing and wood engrav...