The Slave Auction

Creator

John Rogers

Files

Creator Role

sculptor

Description

A rare piece due to its short sale run, The Slave Auction depicts an auctioneer selling two slave parents and their two children. The piece illustrates a tragedy that to many slaves was a harsh reality - a family torn apart at a slave auction. The piece was not a commercial success and was pulled from sale in 1866. However, Rogers said of the piece, "[It] gave me probably more satisfaction to make than any other group. By taking a subject where there is a divided opinion, of course, I lose half my customers."

Description Source

David H. Wallace. John Rogers: The People’s Sculptor. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan, 1967; Pages: 182-83. Ref: DHW #58.

Contributor

Justice Frank J. and Virginia Williams

Approximate Creation Date

1859; 1860

Time Period

1850-1859; 1860-1869

Measurement

13 inches (height)

Materials and Techniques Display

painted plaster

Inscription

signed: center top of base: JOHN ROGERS / NEW YORK; inscribed: front of base: THE SLAVE AUCTION; inscribed: sign on auctioneers box: GREAT SALE / OF / HORSES, CATTLE / NEGROES & OTHER FARMS STOCK- / THIS DAY AT / PUBLIC AUCTION

Subjects

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Work Type

sculpture

Class

statuettes & figurines

Preferred Citation

[Physical ID#]: [Title], Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana, Mississippi State University Libraries.

Rights

Copyright protected by Mississippi State University Libraries. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required.

ID

3956

Digital ID

FVW_03956

Current Location

Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana (Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States)

Repository

Mississippi State University Libraries.

Digital Publisher

Mississippi State University Libraries (electronic version).

Contact Information

For more information about the contents of this collection, email sp_coll@library.msstate.edu.