Ebenezer Knight Dexter Statue

Ebenezer Knight Dexter Statue

Subject (Topic)
Cranston Street Armory--Rhode Island--Providence
Dexter Proving Grounds--Rhode Island--Providence
Monuments--Rhode Island--Providence
West End--Neighborhoods--Rhode Island--Providence

Subject (Name)
Dexter, Ebenezer Knight, 1773-1824

Subject (Object)
Commemorative sculpture

The bronze statue of Ebenezer Knight Dexter rests atop a granite pedestal. Shown in slight contrapposto with his right foot stepping off the base of the statue, Dexter grasps a partially unrolled paper with the words "To the City of Providence." With long wavy hair pulled back at the nape of his neck, Dexter wears a short coat, a waistcoat, a ruffled shirt, and breeches. His legs are stocking-clad, and he wears buckled shoes. In his left hand, Dexter holds a walking stick and tricorne hat.

Gorham Manufacturing Company Founders

Photographs by Eric Sung, Professor, Providence College

June 29, 1894

Henry C. Clarke, Esq.; Joint Special Committee on the City Council (Alderman Myron H. Fuller, Alderman Henry B. Winship, Alderman Charles E. Harris, Councilman George L. Vose, Councilman William P. Vaughan, Councilman Augustine Giblin); R.H. Deming, Esq., Chairman of Park Commissioners (base)

City of Providence, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States

JPEG

English

Visual Arts-Sculpture

Dexter Proving Grounds, Willow and Parade Streets, Providence, Rhode Island, 02909, United States

Inscription on front of pedestal:
Presented to the
Citizens of Providence, by
Henry C. Clark, Esq.,
In Honor of
Ebenezer Knight Dexter,
Who Gave His Property for the Benefit of the Public and the Homeless.
1893

Inscription on back of pedestal:
Leaving nothing but a headstone to mark our passage through life does not make the world better. They live best who serve humanity the most.

Statue: 96 in. (243.84 cm)
Pedestal: 108 in. (274.32 cm)

Bronze; Granite

"The Dexter Statue." Providence Journal, September 13, 1893.

"The Dexter Statue. Programme of Exercises at Unveiling and Dedications Today." Providence Journal, June 29, 1894.

"The Dexter Statue." Providence Journal, May 17. 1894.

"Dexter Statue. Unveiled Friday Afternoon at the Training Grounds." Providence Journal, June 30, 1894.

Report of the Exercises at the Dedication of the Statue of Ebenezer Knight Dexter, Presented to the City of Providence by Henry C. Clark, esq., June 29, 1894. Providence, RI: The Providence Press, Snow & Farnam, City Printers, 1894. (Library of Congress, LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/11010435)

Caranci, Paul. "Ebenezer Knight Dexter: An Enduring Legacy to the People of Providence." Small State Big History, July 21, 2016. https://smallstatebighistory.com/ebenezer-knight-dexter-enduring-legacy-people-providence/.

Department of Art, Culture, Tourism, City of Providence