Richard Henry Deming Memorial

Richard Henry Deming Memorial

Subject (Topic)
Roger Williams Park--Rhode Island--Providence
South Elmwood--Neighborhoods--Rhode Island--Providence
Monuments--Rhode Island--Providence

Subject (Name)
Deming, Richard Henry, 1841-1902

Subject (Object)
Commemorative sculpture

The Richard Henry Deming Memorial includes a bronze portrait bust of Deming and an elaborately foliated bronze bench, also known as an exedra. The bust of Deming rests atop a pedestal set into the bench. A seemingly close likeness, the artist William Couper modeled Deming with furrowed brows and crow’s feet at his eyes. He sports a walrus mustache and wavy hair parted down the middle, a fairly typical style of the late 1890s. Deming appears contemplative and tired--he has bags under his eyes--as he gazes out over Roger Williams Park.

Working closely with Couper on the overall design, William Codman integrated the bust, plinth, grapevine and oak leaf designs, and exedra into a successful memorial. A well-known silver and jewelry designer at Gorham Manufacturing Company, Codman modeled the life-like grape vines that entwine on the sides of the bench and frame the main text on the front of the memorial.

Couper, William, 1853-1942 (bust)
Codman, William Christmas, 1839-1921 (bench)
Gorham Manufacturing Company Founders

Photographs by Eric Sung, Professor, Providence College

1904

President John E. Kendrick, Common Council; Providence Parks Commission

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

JPEG

English

Visual Arts-Sculpture

Roger Williams Park, Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States

Bronze inscription on pedestal:
Richard H. Deming
President of
Park Commissioners
1892-1902

Round seal of the City of Providence on base of pedestal:
[The seal of providence includes an image of Roger Williams in a canoe coming ashore at Slate Rock and greeting two members of the Narragansett tribe.]

The words "City of Providence" and the motto "What Cheer" are inscribed within the top half of the circle.

Artist’s signature on bust:
Wm Couper N. Y. City

Artist’s signature on bench:
C. Codman 1904

Foundry mark:
Gorham Mfg Co. Founders

Bronze

"Heartfelt Tribute. Paid to the Memory of Richard H. Deming." Providence Journal, December 19, 1902.

"Memorial for Mr. Deming. Very Probable That One Will Be Erected in the Park." Providence Journal, December 19, 1902.

"Valedictory Session. Present Board of Alderman Met for Last Time. . . . The Proposition to Erect a Memorial in Roger Williams Park to the Late Richard H. Deming Also Met with the Boards Favor." Providence Journal, January 1, 1903.

Osborne, Owen. "Providence Parks Criticised (sic): To the Editor of the Sunday Journal." Providence Journal, February 8, 1903.

"Administrator Settled. Suit Was Brought Against Estate of the Late R. H. Deming." Providence Journal, November 6, 1903.

Department of Art, Culture, Tourism, City of Providence