“Why Don’t You Speak for Yourself, John?”

John Rogers, "Why Don't You Speak for Yourself, John?", patented 1885, painted plaster, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Genevieve Wisel in memory of Dan Wisel, 1975.73
Copied John Rogers, "Why Don't You Speak for Yourself, John?", patented 1885, painted plaster, 21 3⁄4 x 17 1⁄2 x 12 3⁄4 in. (55.3 x 44.5 x 32.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Genevieve Wisel in memory of Dan Wisel, 1975.73
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
“Why Don’t You Speak for Yourself, John?”
Artist
Date
patented 1885
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
21 3⁄4 x 17 1⁄2 x 12 3⁄4 in. (55.3 x 44.5 x 32.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Genevieve Wisel in memory of Dan Wisel
Mediums
Mediums Description
painted plaster
Classifications
Subjects
  • Occupation — domestic — sewing
  • Figure group
  • Dress — accessory — hat
  • Dress — historic — Puritan dress
  • Object — furniture — chair
  • Object — other — spinning wheel
Object Number
1975.73
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1975.73

Artwork Description

This group illustrates a line from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem The Courtship of Miles Standish. In the poem, Captain Miles Standish asks his friend John Alden to propose to Priscilla on his behalf. John goes to visit Priscilla and does as requested, even though he is in love with her himself. This sculpture shows the moment when Priscilla guesses John’s true feelings and declares, “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?”