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PETER BARSTOW ROCKWELL

1936 - 2020

PETER BARSTOW ROCKWELL obituary, 1936-2020, Danvers, MA

BORN

1936

DIED

2020

PETER ROCKWELL Obituary

Peter Rockwell, fanciful Sculptor, dies at 83, spending his last weeks at peace visited by children and grandchildren. Peter was born in New Rochelle, NY, on September 16, 1936 to Norman Percevel Rockwell and Mary Barstow Rockwell. He and his two older brothers, Jarvis and Thomas, grew up in Arlington, VT. In 1953, the family moved to Stockbridge, MA. Peter attended Haverford College, where he graduated with an English degree, and then enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts to study sculpture full time. In 1961, Peter received a small fellowship to study carving in Carrara and he would cross the Atlantic for Italy on a Polish freighter with his wife Cynthia and 18-month old son, Geoffrey. A year later, Peter and family moved to Rome where he lived and worked most of his life and where Thomas, John and Mary were born. In Rome, Peter worked in different types of stone, in bronze, in wood, in clay and casting in resin usually showing back in the USA to earn a living. He received numerous larger commissions like the Ned Wolf Memorial in Philadelphia and Boston College's Tree of Life. A commission to carve gargoyles for the Washington Cathedral led to a lifetime love of monsters that can be found in Plymouth, MI; Philadelphia, PA; Chioggia, Italy; and Stockbridge, MA. Peter loved teaching and shared with many his love of art and art history. Over the years he taught at the American Overseas School of Rome, at St. Stephen's School and at the Tyler School of Art & Architecture. He also gave unique guided tours of sites, notably showing Rosalynn Carter the Roman Forum. He led tours across Europe, took his family on many camping trips to Greece, Turkey and Scotland, and examined sculpture in Pakistan and India. Peter was an expert in ancient stone carving technique. For years he inspired conservators to read the tool marks on unfinished statues and he consulted on such notable works as Trajan's column, the Trevi Fountain, and Bernini's Angels. He also published a number of articles and books including "The Art of Stoneworking: A Reference Guide" (Cambridge, 1993) and, with Vidya Dehejia, "The Unfinished: The Stone Carvers at Work in the Indian Subcontinent" (Roli Books, 2016). Peter had recently moved back to the US and lived in Beverly, MA, close to family, where he continued to sculpt monster faces and mermaids out of clay. Peter was predeceased by his beloved wife Cinny (Cynthia Ide) in 2013. He will be missed by his brothers Jarvis (Nova) and Thomas; his children Geoffrey (Margaret), Thomas (Rosemary), John (Lan) and Mary (Mathew); and by his grandchildren Peter, Alethea, Mateo and Alaska. There will be a Service for Peter at St. Paul's Within the Walls (of Rome) in May, 2020.

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Published by Boston Globe from Feb. 12 to Feb. 13, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for PETER ROCKWELL

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Marilyn

June 5, 2020

I worked for Peter and his family as a live in mothers help back in 1969 and 1970. They were a creative and fun loving family. So sorry to hear about Peter and Cinnys passing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Jennifer Hill

February 28, 2020

Peter was my art history teacher senior year at St. Stephen's and I learned so much and had so much fun on the trips around Italy. His daughter, Mary and I became close friends that year. I realized just before he died that his humor and more relaxed way of teaching probably helped me find my sense of humor. I could relax just a little and let go of some of my teenage angst enough so I could find my own humor and realize I did not have to take everything so seriously. Thank you for everything, Peter Rockwell.

Jim Goldston

February 19, 2020

Went to School with Geoff. We were floormates in Lloyd my Jr year. My deepest sympathies to Geoff and his family.

Peter Wild

February 18, 2020

I was 16 years old, it was 1969. Peter was our travel guide for a summer in Italy. Peter was young, married, had a couple of young children? , living in a vw camper van. I can't even begin to explain how my life changed for the better. I think about the learning experience so enhanced by Peter often . May he rest in peace and his family know of the joy he brought to all of his students that summer of 69.

Owen Klein

February 14, 2020

While Peter was at Haverford, I was also a
student from Stockbridge studying at a near-by Main Line college. I was visiting Peter one day in his dorm room and he showed me one of his early works-a small metal sculpture of an elongated reclining man. He was very pleased with it because his father had said he liked it. This I remember.

Karen McEachern

February 13, 2020

What a life - doing what you love with those you love.
Sincere condolences to the Rockwell family,
Karen Kelly McEachern

Jose

February 13, 2020

Gracias por traer la exposición de tu padre Norman a Roma. Fué maravillosa. Descansa en paz junto a tu padre. Hasta siempre.

Dolores Tucker

February 12, 2020

RIP Peter. You've left a legacy of artistic works.

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