Bowen R. Church Statue (The Bandmaster)
Dublin Core
Title
Bowen R. Church Statue (The Bandmaster)
Subject (Topic)
Subject (Topic)
Roger Williams Park--Rhode Island--Providence
South Elmwood--Neighborhoods--Rhode Island--Providence
Monuments--Rhode Island--Providence
Roger Williams Park--Rhode Island--Providence
South Elmwood--Neighborhoods--Rhode Island--Providence
Monuments--Rhode Island--Providence
Subject (Name)
Subject (Name)
Church, Bowen R., 1860-1923
Church, Bowen R., 1860-1923
Subject (Object)
Subject (Object)
Commemorative sculpture
Commemorative sculpture
Description
The celebrated coronet player, Bowen R. Church, was the bandmaster for the Reeve’s American Band, based in Providence and who performed concerts in Roger Williams Park in the early 1900s. The sculptor Aristide Berto Cianfarani modeled a statue of Church dressed in his military-like band uniform with braided designs on the sleeves and chest. His hair is parted down the middle, and he sports a walrus mustache. He holds a coronet to his lips as if in the action of playing a note. Based on archival newspaper images of Church, Cianfarani captured a close likeness of the famed bandmaster. Cast by Gorham Manufacturing Company Founders, the statue was placed originally in Roosevelt Lake near the Bandstand. Later in the twentieth century, the statue was moved to its current location near the Seal House.
Creator
Cianfarani, Aristide Berto, 1895-1960 (sculpture)
Gorham Manufacturing Company Founders
Gorham Manufacturing Company Founders
Source
Photographs by Eric Sung, Professor, Providence College
Date
August 26, 1928
Contributor
William G. James (donor); Frank C. Church (brother)
Rights
City of Providence, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States
Format
JPEG
Language
English
Type
Visual Arts-Sculpture
Coverage
Roger Williams Park, FC Greene Memorial Boulevard, Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States
Extent
84 in. (213.36 cm)
Medium
Bronze
Bibliographic Citation
"Statue to Honor Noted Bandsman. Figure of Bowen R. Church of Reeve’s American Band to Stand in Park Lake." Providence Journal, June 23, 1928.
"Site of Bowen R. Church Statue in Roger Williams Park." Providence Journal, August 22, 1928.
"Band Concert Features Numbers by Bowen R. Church in Dedicatory Exercises for Bronze Statue to Famous Cornetist in Park." Providence Journal, August 26, 1928.
"City Pays Tribute to Noted Musician. Unveils Bronze Likeness of Bowen R. Church, Cornetist, at Roger Williams Park." Providence Journal, August 27, 1928.
Patten, David. "Church’s Golden Notes Still Live." Providence Journal, April 16, 1956.
Patten, David. "Church-Spary Excelled in Miserere." Providence Journal, April 23, 1956.
Byrnes, Garrett D. "Let’s Hear It for the American Brass Band." Providence Journal, July 2, 1972.
"Site of Bowen R. Church Statue in Roger Williams Park." Providence Journal, August 22, 1928.
"Band Concert Features Numbers by Bowen R. Church in Dedicatory Exercises for Bronze Statue to Famous Cornetist in Park." Providence Journal, August 26, 1928.
"City Pays Tribute to Noted Musician. Unveils Bronze Likeness of Bowen R. Church, Cornetist, at Roger Williams Park." Providence Journal, August 27, 1928.
Patten, David. "Church’s Golden Notes Still Live." Providence Journal, April 16, 1956.
Patten, David. "Church-Spary Excelled in Miserere." Providence Journal, April 23, 1956.
Byrnes, Garrett D. "Let’s Hear It for the American Brass Band." Providence Journal, July 2, 1972.
Rights Holder
Department of Art, Culture, Tourism, City of Providence
Citation
Cianfarani, Aristide Berto, 1895-1960 (sculpture)
Gorham Manufacturing Company Founders, “Bowen R. Church Statue (The Bandmaster),” Commemorative Works of Providence, accessed April 1, 2026, https://monuments.artculturetourism.com/items/show/36.