King, James A. (James Allen), 1905-1959
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1905-1959
James A. King was born in Scituate, Rhode Island on March 25, 1905. His education mainly consisted of public schooling. He was awarded a scholarship to the Rhode Island School of Design but his skills were already so advanced that they sent him home on his first day. He was a self-taught draftsman, artist and woodcarver. His early childhood hours were devoted to sketching.
During his early years, he worked in the mills of Scituate and was later employed as an "axe-man" for the Providence Water Supply Board during the construction of the Scituate Reservoir. Upon completion of the reservoir, he transferred to the Rhode Island Department of Public Works, Division of Roads & Bridges as a Draftsman. While working for the State he designed many of the States map covers and town boundary markers. He freelanced for the Providence Lithograph Company depicting biblical events for their Church and Sunday School series. On occasion, he did portraits for campaign posters.
In 1945, Mr. King was chosen to design the mural for the interior of the State House Dome. His larger than life charcoal sketches of Roger Williams and the Indians of Rhode Island are great examples of his talent and ability, especially with the foreshortening of the figures in the curves of the dome without distortion. The mural, in the interior of the dome, depicts four scenes: Roger Williams receiving a land grant from Canonicus and Miantonomi, freedom of religion, the beginning of industry in the state and the origin of construction. Giorgio deFelice, executed the mural designed by King. A great disappointment for Mr. King was not being able to carry out the final work on the dome due to health reasons.
James King exhibited at the Providence Art Club and with the South County Art Association. Like his father, James King sold his woodcarvings through Crossroads of Sports in New York.
During his early years, he worked in the mills of Scituate and was later employed as an "axe-man" for the Providence Water Supply Board during the construction of the Scituate Reservoir. Upon completion of the reservoir, he transferred to the Rhode Island Department of Public Works, Division of Roads & Bridges as a Draftsman. While working for the State he designed many of the States map covers and town boundary markers. He freelanced for the Providence Lithograph Company depicting biblical events for their Church and Sunday School series. On occasion, he did portraits for campaign posters.
In 1945, Mr. King was chosen to design the mural for the interior of the State House Dome. His larger than life charcoal sketches of Roger Williams and the Indians of Rhode Island are great examples of his talent and ability, especially with the foreshortening of the figures in the curves of the dome without distortion. The mural, in the interior of the dome, depicts four scenes: Roger Williams receiving a land grant from Canonicus and Miantonomi, freedom of religion, the beginning of industry in the state and the origin of construction. Giorgio deFelice, executed the mural designed by King. A great disappointment for Mr. King was not being able to carry out the final work on the dome due to health reasons.
James King exhibited at the Providence Art Club and with the South County Art Association. Like his father, James King sold his woodcarvings through Crossroads of Sports in New York.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
James Allen King family archive
Collection
Identifier: 2015-39
Abstract
The James Allen King family archive consists primarily of photographs, correspondence, clippings and pencil renderings related to King’s artistic works.
Dates:
c. 1940-1988
Newspaper clippings, c. 1946, 1988
Sub-Series
Identifier: 2015-39
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The James Allen King family archive consists primarily of photographs, correspondence, clippings and pencil renderings related to King’s artistic works.The archives consist of photographs of the pencil renderings for the State House dome, newspaper article clippings related to the James A. King Remembrance Day (March 26, 1988), the family’s copy of Governor DiPrete’s Proclamation and a photograph of a pencil rendering for the University of Rhode Island seal. Also included are a...
Dates:
c. 1946, 1988
State House Dome Mural, c. 1946
Digital Work
Identifier: 5cf422c3-ed7a-44cc-8089-e2dafc45258a
Dates:
c. 1946
Found in:
Rhode Island State Archives
