Randolph Rogers

Sculptor Randolph Rogers (1825-1892) grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and moved at age 20 to New York City, where he produced a series of portrait busts for the store where he was a clerk. His coworkers funded a trip to Florence for Rogers where he won critical acclaim for his figure "Nydia".

Rogers had only been sculpting for give years when he created the Columbus doors for the Rotunda of the United States Capitol, establishing his reputation as an artist. Following the 1857 death of sculptor Thomas Crawford, Rogers was asked to complete the Virginia Washington Monument at the State Capitol in Richmond.