Most Famous Sculptures

01/11/2024

The Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree in Madrid, Spain
Located in central Madrid and designed by the Spanish sculptor Antonio Navarro Santafé, The Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree is a 1967 work that represents Madrid’s coat of arms. The statue, located in a public square called Puerta del Sol, is made of stone and bronze, and it’s 13 feet tall.

01/11/2024

Force of Nature in London, United Kingdom
Force of Nature, which is located in several major cities around the globe, was designed by Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn. He was inspired by the destruction brought on by hurricanes around the globe. Made from bronze, stainless steel, and aluminum, Force of Nature depicts Mother Nature hurling the planet in circles. The sculpture seen in the picture is located in London.

08/20/2023

https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/10-contemporary-sculptors-to-know/

Sculpture is widely explored by contemporary artists. Artsper presents the 10 contemporary sculptors you should know.

03/08/2022

THE THINKER
Location: Musee Rodin, Paris, France

Sculptor: Auguste Rodin

Year: 1904
Auguste Rodin was a towering figure in the field of sculpture who is widely considered the father of modern sculpture. He originally conceived this statue as part of a large commission, begun in 1880, for a doorway surround called The Gates of Hell. Rodin based this commission on The Divine Comedy of Dante and some critics believe that The Thinker originally intended to depict Dante. Many marble and bronze editions of The Thinker in several sizes were executed during the lifetime of Rodin and even after his death. However, the most famous version is the 6 feel (1.8 m) tall bronze statue that was cast in 1904 and that sits in the gardens of the Rodin Museum in Paris. This image of a man lost in thought, but whose powerful body suggests a great capacity for action, has became one of the most celebrated sculptures ever known. The Thinker was originally named The Poet and it is often used as an image to represent philosophy. It is the most famous work of the greatest modern sculptor.

03/05/2022

MANNEKEN P*S
Location: Museum of the City of Brussels, Belgium

Sculptor: Hieronymus Duquesnoy the Elder

Year: 1619
The name of this statue literally means “peeing little man” or “peeing boy”. It is a small bronze sculpture depicting a naked little boy urinating into a fountain’s basin. It is located in the center of Brussels at the junction of the road Rue du Chene and the pedestrian Rue de l’Etuve. The Manneken P*s is considered an emblem of the rebellious spirit of Brussels and it is one of the most famous attractions in the city. The statue gained in importance by the end of the 17th century and its popularity has grown since then making it “an object of glory appreciated by all and renowned throughout the world”. There are numerous legends associated with the Manneken P*s. He is dressed in costumes several times each week and his wardrobe consists of around one thousand different costumes. He has received gifts from lords and kings and has been abducted and saved several times. The current statue is a copy which dates from 1965. The original is kept at the Museum of the City of Brussels.

03/01/2022

CHRIST THE REDEEMER
Location: Corcovado mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sculptor: Paul Landowski

Year: 1931
In 1921, the Roman Catholic Circle of Rio de Janeiro proposed the construction of a statue of Jesus Christ on Mount Corcovado. The commanding height of the summit, 2,310 feet (704 m), would make the statue visible from anywhere in Rio. Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa was chosen to design the statue while French sculptor Paul Landowski created the work. Silva Costa worked in collaboration with French engineer Albert Caquot while Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida fashioned the face of the statue. Christ the Redeemer, known as Cristo Redentor in native Portuguese, was completed in 1931. It stands 98 feet (30 m) tall excluding its 26 feet (8 m) pedestal. Horizontally, the outstretched arms of Christ span 92 feet (28 m). Christ the Redeemer has become a symbol of Christianity across the world. It is a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. The statue was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a 21st century poll with more than 100 million votes.

02/26/2022

THE GREAT SPHINX
Location: Giza Plateau, Giza, Egypt

Sculptor: Not Known

Year: Not Known
One of the most famous monuments in the world, the Great Sphinx of Giza is a giant limestone statue of a sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. It is 240 feet (73 m) long from paw to tail; stands 66 feet (20 m) high from the base to the top of the head; and is 62 feet (19 m) wide at its rear haunches. The Great Sphinx is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt and, for centuries, it was the largest sculpture in the world. However, not much in known about the monument. Scholars remain in disagreement over when the Great Sphinx was constructed and for whom. The most popular view is that it represents the Pharaoh Khafre of the 4th dynasty during the Old Kingdom and thus it was constructed during his reign which lasted from 2558 BCE to 2532 BCE. According to some recent studies the Sphinx was built as long ago as 7000 BC suggesting that the statue was the work of an advanced civilization predating the ancient Egyptians. However, traditional Egyptologists reject this view.

02/22/2022

THE BRONZE DAVID
Location: Bargello Museum, Florence, Italy

Sculptor: Donatello

Year: c. 1440s
The Bronze David is renowned for being the first large-scale free-standing n**e statue since antiquity. It is also the first unsupported standing work of bronze cast during the Renaissance. It depicts David, of the story of David and Goliath, holding the sword of his defeated enemy and with his foot on Goliath’s severed head. David is completely naked, apart from a laurel-topped hat and boots. The well-proportioned and delicate figure of David bears contrast with the giant sword in his hand, perhaps indicating the assistance of God in his achieving the incredible feat. Donatello is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the Renaissance and he was the leading sculptor of its early period. Among other things, he gave a different direction to Western sculpture taking it away from the prevalent Gothic style to the Classical style. Donatello produced a clothed marble statue of David in Gothic style in 1409 but it is nowhere as famous as the Bronze David, which is executed in Classical style and considered his greatest masterpiece.