Nydia, The Blind Flower Girl of Pompeii

CC0 Public Domain Designation

Arts of the Americas

modeled 1855–56, carved 1858

Randolph Rogers (American, 1825–1892)

This statue is based on a character from Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s popular 1834 novel The Last Days of Pompeii. In the episode depicted here, Nydia and her two companions attempt to flee the city after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The three become separated, however, and Randolph Rogers captured Nydia as she gropes her way through the burning city. The broken Corinthian column at her feet symbolizes fallen Pompeii, and Nydia’s clinging garments, entangled in her staff, indicate her chaotic surroundings. Because of its narrative quality, sentimental presentation, and classical features and proportions, this sculpture was extremely popular with the American public upon its first being exhibited.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Arts of the Americas

Artist: Randolph Rogers (Sculptor)
Title: Nydia, The Blind Flower Girl of Pompeii
Place: Rome (Place depicted)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: Modeled 1855–1856
Medium: Marble
Inscriptions: Inscribed on base: "Rome 1858"
Dimensions: 130.8 × 64.1 × 91.4 cm (51 1/2 × 25 1/4 × 36 in.)
Credit Line: Bequest of Mrs. Uri Balcom
Reference Number: 1896.77
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/2446/manifest.json

Art Institute of Chicago, Catalogue of Objects in the Museum: Sculpture and Painting (Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 1898), 58, cat. 475, as Nydia.
Judith A. Barter, et al., American Arts at The Art Institute of Chicago: From Colonial Times to World War I (Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 1998), 177–179, cat. 79 (ill.).

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.