Edmonia Lewis created grand, moralizing designs based on mythology or Christian ideals, in a neoclassical style. Here, sleeping children hold morning glories—flowers that bloom at dawn and close by afternoon—to allude to mortality and the resurrection of Christ. Lewis spent most of her career in Italy, among other American women sculptors. She was the first internationally renowned sculptor of African American and Native American descent; at times, perceptions of her identity negatively affected the reception of her work. However, her work was largely admired by collectors and celebrated by art critics in the United States. Lewis made a similar sculpture, entitled Asleep, a year later. Take a look at a detail of Asleep and compare with Night to see the changes Lewis made. Sculptors would often create multiple iterations of a singular piece, allowing them to develop designs and sell more of their popular works.