William Rimmer: Struggles

"St. Stephen" by William Rimmer

"In 1855 William Rimmer moved with his family to Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he began systematically the practice of his new profession, medicine. A distinguished specialist from Boston, whom he called in for consultation on a difficult case, finding Rimmer practicing with neither professional examination nor diploma, and being pleased with his treatment of the patient, advised him to join the Suffolk County Medical Society, which the doctor did, receiving a diploma.

But certain qualities are necessary to the popularity of a physician which he did not possess, and without these profound knowledge is not sufficient. Finding his practice insufficient to support him, he conceived the idea of eking out his narrow income by working in granite. His power of production in form had been unexercised for many years, but during that time his knowledge of the human figure had greatly increased. How he was able to procure the granite happened in this way. One day he was called to attend to a patient who, as a result, was very pleased with his treatment for bronchitis. This man also owned a granite factory, and gave him the granite out of which Rimmer cut a female head and one of St. Stephen.

This grateful patient also introduced him to Mr. Stephen H. Perkins, who became Dr. Rimmer's good angel. Mr. Perkins encouraged Rimmer to continue his efforts as a sculptor. 'Be an artist,' he said. 'There are plenty of doctors, but few artists.' As a response to this friendly interest was executed the St. Stephen. It was cut from a block of granite, and without a model or any of the facilities usually considered indispensable for the accomplishment of such an undertaking. It represents the head of a man past middle age, in great agony, thrown upward and back, as if vainly appealing for protection, which the raised right should indicates the arm lifted in defence. Rimmer worked on this with such energy that his hands were blistered and torn, his arms swollen, and his whole body exhausted in aching sympathy with the activity of his spirit.

It might almost be said that the work symbolized Dr. Rimmer's relation to the world. It shows combative, wonderful, concentrative haste, and is a striking illustration of the characteristics of his nature."

(Excerpts from "The Art Life of William Rimmer: Sculptor, Painter, and Physician" by Truman Howe Bartlett.)