The desire of man to cut and sculpt objects, animals, as well as his own kind appeared back in the days rock paintings. Sculptures can also be classified as one of the types of paintings; their only difference is their physicality, which shows its emotions in a slightly different way. In addition, a person’s perception of a statue is different from the perception of a painting, because it not only looks like him, but is also quite tangible. At different times, sculptors created their masterpieces and some of them exist in present time, delighting and pushing contemporaries to different thoughts.
David and the Thinker
Among the most famous sculptures, Michelangelo’s “David” occupies one of the places of honor. David is a biblical hero whom the great sculptor created at the age of 28. This 5-meter-tall work of art is not only a representation of a specific character, but also a symbol of human genius, the Florentine Republic, and the peak of the Renaissance. This sculptural image is the most replicated.
The famous sculpture is “The Thinker” by Auguste Rodin. This image, popular to this day, was created back in 1882. This sculpture was first supposed to receive a different name - “Sings” - and become part of an entire composition created based on the work “The Divine Comedy”. The French muscular boxer Jean Bo posed for the image of the thinker. His performances could often be seen in the legendary red light district of Paris.
The Walking Man and the Venus de Milo
Not only the most famous statue in the world, but also the most expensive is the work of Alberto Giacometti with the entertaining title “The Walking Man” with a height of 1.83 m. The Swiss Alberto created it in 1961, and more recently, somewhere at the very beginning of 2010, it became a lot at auction. We bought this lot for fabulous money - 104.3 million dollars. And all this happened because “The Walking Man” is one of the most masterfully important works in the life of the author, the image of which can be seen even on 100 francs.
Speaking about the most famous sculptures, it is impossible to ignore the Venus de Milo. Presumably, its author is Agesander of Antioch. This masterpiece has quite interesting story. Created in the 2nd century BC, the statue appeared to the world again in 1820, when it was discovered on the island of Milos by a sailor from France. At that time, Venus’s hands were intact, but a dispute that arose between representatives of Turkey and France led to their loss.
Nike of Samothrace and Pieta
An ancient symbol of victory for the inhabitants of Fr. Rhodes above the Syrian fleet is a marble sculpture "Nike of Samothrace". She was found in the area of the Kabiri sanctuary on the local island of Samothraki. Nike, standing on the rock, was like the front of a ship rushing into battle. The clothes that fluttered on her in the wind gave the whole image an uncontrollability and thirst for movement. You can see the statue today in the Louvre.
It is not for nothing that Michelangelo was considered a brilliant creator. Just look at his sculpture “Pieta”. At the age of 24, the author created this one of the best scenes of the Virgin Mary herself mourning her son. Here, emotionality, symbolism and incomparable composition harmoniously merge. All these indicators led to the recognition of the sculpture as a true example of the High Renaissance.
Nefertiti and the Capitoline She-Wolf
"Nefertiti" is another of the famous statues of the world that reflects culture Ancient Egypt. It was created using limestone, which was then painted. Bright colors precious stones on the crown, which have been preserved on the sculpture to this day, create an unsurpassed contrast with the face of Nefertiti. This work, in the form of a bust, is alternately located in Greece and Germany, which causes constant controversy.
The famous sculpture made of bronze is the “Capitolian She-Wolf”. Throughout its existence, it was located in Rome and was often interpreted as a sign of propaganda that reflected the desire fascist regime restore the former Roman Empire.
Motherland and Another Place
Sculptors Nikitin and Vuchetich were directly involved in the creation of the 52-meter-high figure of a woman - the “Motherland” statue. She is one of the tallest statues in the entire world and is a symbol of a woman who calls her sons to fight the enemy by taking the first step.
The list of the most famous sculptures of our time may well be complemented by “Another Place” by Anoni Gormley. It is a landscape installation that evokes deep thoughts and even melancholy. The installation consists of 100 human figures made of cast iron and placed at a distance of 3 km from the impressive coastline of the city of Liverpool. The statues facing the sea completely disappear into the depths of the water during high tides.
Citizens of Calais and Manneken Pis
Another famous creation of Auguste Rodin is the statue “Citizens of Calais”. King Edward III of England during Hundred Years' War besieged this city, resulting in famine causing its inhabitants to surrender. But the cruel king set one more condition - six citizens from the nobility had to come to him with ready-made ropes around their necks in order to give themselves up for execution. When one of them did this, it aroused pity from Queen Philip, and she persuaded her husband to forgive the others.
The Manneken Pis statue, by an unknown author, is one of the main attractions of Brussels. They say its origin dates back to the 15th century, and its symbolism is interpreted ambiguously. Some believe that the sculpture depicts the son of Godfrey III of Leuven, whose cradle was deliberately suspended from one of the tall trees as inspiration from the sight of the newly-minted monarch and to intensify battles. The child urinated directly from there. Others believe that this is a symbol-reminder of the boy who extinguished the ammunition that was laid out under the city walls with a stream of urine. The original statue was stolen several times and then replaced with a copy.
Terracotta Army and Golden Buddha
A famous sculpture, even a whole series of 8099 such sculptures is “ Terracotta Army" V Republic of China. These include not only warriors, but also their horses. Each of them has individual characteristics and was called upon to support the power of Qin Shi Huang when he went to the afterlife.
One of the famous statues of the world, the Golden Buddha, is located in a temple called Wat Traimit in Bangkok. It is made of solid pure gold, is 3 m high and weighs an impressive 5 tons. During the Burma War it was carefully covered with plaster and existed in this form until about 1957. It was at this time that she was transported to another place and the real Buddha was discovered, who had been hiding for many years under a plaster covering.
Another amazing Buddha statue is this piece in Leshan, China. Here the sculpture is carved directly into the rock and is the tallest creation of its kind in the world with a height of 71 meters.
Christ statue and Moai sculptures
Speaking of the tallest statues, we cannot fail to mention the Statue of Christ the Savior, located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. In 1931, the final opening of this 30-meter creation took place, which in the near future became a model for repetition in other cities of the world.
The original statues can be seen on Easter Island in the form of Moai sculptures. Their appearance dates back to the first millennium. These monolithic figures are enormous in size. On average, their height reaches 6 m, and their weight is 20 tons. The material for their creation was volcanic rocks.
The Little Mermaid and the Statue of Liberty
A truly fabulous statue can be seen in Copenhagen near the harbor. She depicts the heroine of Andersen's fairy tale and is called "The Little Mermaid". The author of this creation, which saw the world in 1913, is Edward Eriksen.
Some statues symbolize entire cities, and this is exactly what the Statue of Liberty in New York is. Together with the pedestal, she rises 93 meters and also holds in her hands symbolic objects - a tablet and a torch.
Traveling is always associated with acquiring new experiences and vivid impressions. The latter are provided to everyone who goes to inspect one of the sculptures described above. They make you think, look differently at the world and easily discover new horizons. So that you don’t miss any of these vibrant places during your trip, the company’s website will tell you not only about famous statues, bridges, cities, etc., but will also provide you with the opportunity to find a profitable flight option to your destination and accommodation. With us you can always easily get acquainted with fascinating and useful information about countries, their local culture and traditions. And the selected rules of behavior certain places and other subtleties of being directly in another country will not allow you to get into an awkward situation..
15 Famous and Significant SculpturesWithout sculpture, art cannot be complete.
Carving and sculpting people, animals and various objects appeared in the history of mankind almost simultaneously with rock art. Sculptures are the same paintings, only physical, and therefore expressing emotions a little differently. What statues tell us is much easier for us to perceive because they are tangible and more like us than works of any other form of art.
In this material we have collected 15 famous and significant sculptures created in different times from different materials with different goals. Please share your favorite pieces of sculptural art in the comments.
David
Michelangelo 
The five-meter statue of the biblical hero David, created by Michelangelo when he was only 28 years old, is perceived as a symbol of the Florentine Republic and one of the pinnacles of not only Renaissance art, but also of human genius in general.
The most replicated sculptural image in the world.
Thinker
Auguste Rodin
One more to the extreme popular image created by Auguste Rodin in 1882. Initially, the sculpture was supposed to be called “The Poet” and be part of the composition “The Gates of Hell” based on the “Divine Comedy”. The model for the sculpture was a Frenchman named Jean Bo, a muscular boxer who mainly competed in Paris's red light district.
walking man
Alberto Giacometti
The most expensive sculpture in the history of mankind. In 2010, the 183-centimeter Walking Man sculpture, made by the Swiss sculptor in 1961, was auctioned at Sotheby's for a record $104.3 million.
The sculpture is considered one of the most important in the work of this master; its image is also featured on the 100 Swiss francs banknote.
Venus de Milo
probably Agesander of Antioch
The famous ancient Greek sculpture, created around the middle of the second century BC, was found on the island of Melos in 1820 by a French sailor who decided to search the coast for antiquities for sale. The hands were then safe and sound, but were lost during the conflict between the French (who found them) and the Turks (the owners of the island).
Nike of Samothrace
An ancient Greek marble sculpture of the goddess Nike was found on the island of Samothrace in the territory of the sanctuary of the Kabiri in April 1863. The statue was erected by the inhabitants of the island of Rhodes in memory of the victory they won over the fleet of the Syrian king. She stood on a steep cliff above the sea, her pedestal depicted a nose warship. The powerful and majestic Nike, in clothes fluttering in the wind, is presented in an unstoppable movement forward. Currently located in the Louvre.
Pieta
Michelangelo
Pietà is a common name for depictions of the scene of the Virgin Mary mourning her son. The best of them was made by Michelangelo at age 24. The impeccable composition, emotionality, humanity and deep symbolism of the sculpture made it an example of the culture of the High Renaissance.
Nefertiti
One of the most famous sculptural cultural monuments of Ancient Egypt. Nefertiti was the wife of the reformer pharaoh Akhenaten. The bust is made entirely of limestone and is completely painted. Special safety beautiful flowers, giving a large contrast between brown Nefertiti's face and crown jewels make it a unique work of art. Egypt and Germany, where the bust of the queen is kept, have been quarreling over it for many years, but cannot come to an agreement.
Capitoline wolf
Etruscan bronze sculpture, stylistically dating back to the 5th century BC, never left Rome, the city founded by those who were suckled by the she-wolf. During the time of Benito Mussolini, the Capitoline Wolf was used as a propaganda symbol, embodying the fascist regime's desire to revive the Roman Empire.
Motherland
Vuchetich and Nikitin
One of the tallest statues in the world is located in Volgograd and is perhaps the main symbol of the struggle Soviet people with fascism. The 52-meter figure of a woman stepped forward, calling her sons to fight the enemy.
Another place
Antony Gormley
Landscape installation "Another place" - sample contemporary art, evoking philosophical reflection and inducing melancholy. Exactly one hundred human-height cast-iron sculptures were placed in 2006 along a three-kilometer beach line north of Liverpool. They face the sea, and during high tides, some of the sculptures are partially or completely submerged under water.
Citizens of Calais
Auguste Rodin
The sculptural group "Citizens of Calais", commissioned by the municipality of Calais, was completed by Rodin in 1888. During the Hundred Years' War English king Edward III besieged the city, and after some time famine forced the defenders to surrender. The king promised to spare the inhabitants only if six of the noblest citizens came out to him in rags and with ropes around their necks, giving themselves up for execution. This requirement was fulfilled. The first to volunteer to give his life to save the city was one of the main rich men, Eustache de Saint-Pierre. Queen Philippa of England was filled with pity for these emaciated people, and in the name of her unborn child, she begged forgiveness for them from her husband.
Rodin revolutionaryly insisted on abandoning the pedestal, although his will was carried out only after the death of the sculptor, and the figures are on the same level as the audience.
Pissing boy
The main attraction of Brussels. Exact time and the circumstances surrounding the appearance of the statue are unknown. According to some information, the statue existed already in the 15th century. Some Brussels residents say that it was installed as a reminder of the events of the Grimbergen War, when a cradle with the son of Godfrey III of Leuven was hung on a tree in order to inspire the townspeople with the sight of the future monarch, and the child from there urinated on the soldiers fighting under the tree. According to another legend, the statue was originally intended to remind the townspeople of the boy who extinguished the ammunition laid out by the enemy under the city walls with a stream of urine.
Since 1695, the statue has been stolen several times, in last time the statue was stolen in the 1960s, after which it was Once again replaced with a copy.
Terracotta Army
At least 8099 sculptures of Chinese warriors and their horses make up this property of China. Terracotta statues, each of which is absolutely individual, were buried in battle formation along with the first emperor of the Qin dynasty - Qin Shi Huang, who unified China and connected all the links Great Wall in the 3rd century BC.
The warriors were supposed to support the power of the emperor in the afterlife.
Golden Buddha
The world's largest solid gold statue is located in Bangkok's Wat Traimit temple - it is about three meters tall and weighs more than five tons.
During the war with Burma, the statue was covered with plaster, and then no one could reveal the secret of this Buddha. Until 1957, little attention was paid to the statue - until it was transported to a new location. According to rumors, during transportation it began to rain, before which the statue, due to its weight, also fell from the crane transporting it; It was sheltered from the rain, but the water still washed away the covering from one of the areas enough for one of the monks to notice a strange shine. According to another version, the plaster cracked from the fall.
The first creations of human hands, which can be called sculpture, appeared in prehistoric times and represented the idols that our ancestors worshiped. Over the past hundreds of thousands of years, the art of sculpting has reached unprecedented heights, and today in museums and on the streets of many cities around the world you can see real masterpieces that invariably evoke admiration among visitors and passers-by. So which of the famous Russian and foreign masters different eras can claim to have his name included in the category of “famous sculptors,” and which of their works are included in the golden fund of world art?
Famous sculptors of the ancient world
As already mentioned, the art of sculpture originated many thousands of years ago, as evidenced by numerous stone and clay three-dimensional images of people, animals and mythical creatures, found during archaeological excavations. Of course, no one knows who their authors were, but history has preserved the names of some great sculptors who worked in the period from the 14th century BC. e. and until the 1st century AD. e.
For example, when asked who the most famous sculptors are ancient world, among others, the great ancient Egyptian sculptor Thutmose the Younger is necessarily mentioned. He worked at the court of Pharaoh Akhenaten and created one of the most famous works art of the Amarna period - bust of Queen Nefertiti. There is much more information about who the most famous sculptors of Greece and Rome of the ancient period were. In particular, the masters Critias and Nesiot created in the 5th century BC. e. the magnificent composition of Harmodius and Aristogeiton, which subsequently inspired sculptors of later times more than once. The great Phidias achieved even greater heights in the skill of sculpting, being the author of gold and ivory, recognized as one of the wonders of the ancient world. It is impossible not to note the enormous contribution to the development of ancient art made by such famous sculptors as Scopas, Praxiteles and Lysippos, who created the so-called quadriga of St. Mark. As for Roman sculptors, most of their creations, for example the famous Apollo Belvedere, are copies of Greek originals.
Famous sculptors of the world: the Middle Ages
As you know, the beginning historical period that came after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, there was no best time for the development of art. That is why no particularly significant works of sculpture dating back to the 5th-12th centuries are known today. Fortunately, over time, the dictates of the church began to weaken, and sculptures of saints and rulers appeared, the authors of which allowed themselves to deviate from the strict canons religious art and make your creations more realistic. As an example, we can cite such masters as the father and son Pisano, who worked at the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century. And, of course, when we're talking about About the most famous sculptors of the Gothic period, one cannot fail to mention Adam Kraft, who created the luxurious altarpiece of the Tetzel Chapel.
Renaissance Sculpture Art
Perhaps there is hardly a person who does not know who the most famous sculptors and their works of the Renaissance are. After all, it is from this era that such masterpieces as the statue of David, copies of which decorate Catholic churches around the world, as well as the monument to Donatello’s Gattamelata and Benvenuto Cellini’s “Perseus,” belong. Of the French masters, it is worth noting Jean Goujon and Germain Pilon, who worked under the influence of their Italian colleagues.
Famous 18th century sculpture masters
An excellent example of the art of sculpture of the New Age is the famous Trevi Fountain on the Palazzo Poli in Rome, considered one of the symbols of the Italian capital. Its authors are Nicolo Salvi and Pietro Bracci, who performed the figure of Neptune and the tritons. In the 18th century, famous sculptors from France Edmond Bouchardon and Jean Baptiste Pigalle worked and became famous for their tombstones of the popes. As for the English masters, among them we can distinguish a peculiar trio consisting of John Flaxman, Joseph Nollekens and Thomas Banks.
19th century European sculpture
The beginning of the century before last was marked by the appearance of a bright star of world sculpture - Bertel Thorvaldsen, who in 1803 presented his "Jason" to the public. After a high-profile world debut, he became an extremely sought-after master among eminent customers from different countries, and for its rather long creative life sculpted many excellent compositions and portraits famous people. In particular, it is worth mentioning the huge frieze depicting the exploits of Alexander the Great, created by him in 1812 to decorate the Quirinal Palace.
When considering who the most famous sculptors were and their works of the 19th century, one of the first names that comes to mind is Auguste Rodin. And this is not at all surprising, since his creations “The Thinker” and “The Kiss” are recognized as the greatest masterpieces of world art. As for the masters of sculpture in Germany, L. Schwanthaler deserves special mention, who created many wonderful works decorating palaces and other significant buildings in Munich.
Sculptors of the 20th-21st centuries
In the last century, the traditions of the great Italian masters were continued by Giacomo Manzu, who became famous for his creation “The Doors of Death”, made for Rome. In addition, it is worth mentioning such masters as Jacques Lipchitz and Ossip Zadkine, who worked in a surrealist style. The category of “The most famous sculptors of the world” also includes the one who created the work “Walking Man” in 1961, which was valued at Sotheby’s at 104.3 million American dollars. Other sculptors of the late 20th century include Lynn Chadwick and Barry Flanagan.
Famous sculptors of Russia from the 18th-19th centuries
There is no need to talk about the art of sculpture in Russia in the pre-Petrine era, since it simply did not exist. The founding of St. Petersburg made us think about decorating its palaces and squares with sculptural compositions, as was customary in European countries, so they began to invite foreign masters to the court. Thus, the first famous “Russian” sculptors were foreigners. For example, several three-dimensional portraits have reached us, cast by the father of the future great architect, K. B. Rastrelli.
After Catherine founded the Second Academy of Arts, Russians also began to study there. In particular, during her reign such pioneers of the Russian art of sculpture as F. Shubin, M. Kozlovsky and F. Gordeev, who created the famous Samson, distinguished themselves. Especially many talented craftsmen appeared in the 19th century. In particular, it was during this period that such famous Russian sculptors as M. M. Antokolsky, the author of the monument to Peter the Great in Peterhof, A. M. Opekushin, P. Velionsky, as well as I. N. Schroeder, worked.
One of the most recognizable works of sculpture of the first half of the 20th century is, of course, the famous monument by Vera Mukhina “Worker and Collective Farm Woman” - a recognized masterpiece of socialist realism. No less interesting are the works of E. Vutechich, who created the “Warrior-Liberator” for Berlin’s Treptower Park and the world-famous statue “Motherland”, and M. Anikushin, the author of the monuments to A.P. Chekhov and A. Pushkin, which was installed in Leningrad in 1957.
As for who the most famous Russian sculptors of the post-Soviet period are, then, probably, they should include Ernst Neizvestny, who, having begun his work during the Soviet era, was forced to emigrate to the USA, and his most significant work, “Mask of Sorrow” for the Magadan victims' memorial Stalin's repressions- created in 1996. Another master of sculpture who has received wide recognition in recent decades is M. Shemyakin, among whose works the multi-figure composition “Children - Victims of the Vices of Adults” deserves special mention.
January 2nd, 2011
There are hundreds of thousands of sculptures in the world, as well as paintings. However, only a few are world famous or known to almost everyone. Today I propose to remember the most famous sculptures in the world, plus remember who their author is and at what time the sculptures were created. Naturally, this list can be continued, but I traditionally limit myself to ten. I will be glad if you want to add any other sculptures in the comments. The top order is naturally arbitrary and subjective.
You can read about the 10 largest sculptural compositions
1 place. Venus de Milo
The statue of the goddess of love Aphrodite was created from white marble in 130 BC e. (according to other sources, a little later than the middle of the 2nd century BC) Agesander (or Alexandros) of Antioch. Previously it was attributed to the work of Praxiteles. The sculpture is a type of Aphrodite of Cnidus (Venus pudica, bashful Venus): a goddess holding a fallen robe with her hand (the first sculpture of this type was sculpted by Praxiteles, c. 350 BC). Proportions - 86x69x93 with a height of 164cm. It was found in 1820 on the island of Milos (Melos), one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, by the peasant Yorgos Kentrotas while working in the ground. The sculpture was in amazingly well-preserved condition, even its hands were in place. They were lost after they were found. Over the possession of a unique sculpture, almost a military conflict broke out between the French who bought it and the Turks (owners of the island). As a result, a full-scale military campaign almost began. As a result, the almost broken sculpture, without arms and base with the author’s signature, was secretly taken from the island. Since 1821, the Venus de Milo has been kept in a gallery specially prepared for it on the 1st floor of the Louvre. The insurance value of this most famous sculpture exceeds $1 billion.
2nd place. David
This sculpture was created in bronze, its author is Donatello (1386-1466). The birth of sculpture is considered to be 1440. This is one of the first sculptures depicting a man in full height, which does not rely on anything. In addition, this is the first nude sculpture that appeared after the Antique period. The sculpture depicts David with a mysterious smile, who looks at the head of Goliath, having just killed him.
David is a marble statue by Michelangelo, first presented to the Florentine public in the Piazza della Signoria on September 8, 1504. Since then, the 5-meter statue began to be perceived as a symbol of the Florentine Republic and one of the peaks of not only the art of the Renaissance, but also of human genius in general.
The statue, intended for all-round viewing, depicts a naked David, focused on the upcoming battle with Goliath. This plot contained an iconographic innovation, since Verrocchio, Donatello and other predecessors of Michelangelo preferred to depict David at the moment of triumph after the victory over the giant. The struggle of 26-year-old sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti to extract the ideal from a shapeless block human body lasted two years. When “David” appeared before the eyes of the amazed public, it seemed for a moment that he was being perceived as alive.
3rd place. Thinker.
“The Thinker” (French: Le Penseur) is one of Auguste Rodin’s most famous sculptures, created between 1880 and 1882. The original sculpture is in the Rodin Museum in Paris, a bronze copy of the sculpture is located at the sculptor’s grave in Meudon, a suburb of Paris. Also, sculptures of “The Thinker” are installed at the gates of the Philadelphia Rodin Museum, at the gates of Columbia University. There are more than 20 bronze and plaster copies of the statue in different cities scattered around the world. The reduced sculpture of “The Thinker” is a fragment of the sculptural portal “Gates of Hell”. According to the author's plan, the sculpture depicts Dante, the brilliant creator of the Divine Comedy. The model for the sculpture (as for many of Rodin's sculptures) was a Frenchman named Jean Baud, a muscular boxer who mainly competed in Paris's red light district. In 1902, the statue was increased to a height of 181 cm.
4th place. Laocon
"Laocoon and His Sons" is a sculptural group in the Vatican Museum of Pius Clement, depicting the mortal struggle of Laocoon and his sons with snakes. The sculpture by Agesander of Rhodes and his sons Polydorus and Athenodorus is only a marble copy of the second half of the 1st century BC. e. The original was made in bronze in 200 BC. e. in the city of Pergamon and has not survived. A Roman copy was found on January 14, 1506 by Feliz de Fredis in the vineyards of Esquiline, underground on the site of Nero's Golden House. Pope Julius II, as soon as he learns about the find, immediately sends the architect Giuliano da Sangallo and the sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti to retrieve it. Sangalo confirms the authenticity of the find with the words: “This is Laooconus, whom Pliny mentions.” Already in March 1506, the sculptural group was handed over to the pope, who installed it in the Vatican Belvedere.
5th place. Disco thrower (discus thrower)
The most famous antique sculpture. What we see now are copies of the first sculpture, which was cast in bronze. Now a copy of the “Discobolus” (and this copy is not the only one) has been recreated from marble. In all likelihood, the author of "Discobolus" was the great sculptor of antiquity Myron. Already his contemporaries noted “the vitality, the power of breathing in the statues of Myron.” He lived between 500–440 BC. Born in Boeotia, he worked mainly in Athens. Myron was the first to embody the idea of movement in his “Discoball”. A short break is depicted between two movements: a backswing and a forward throw. Thanks to this, a feeling of tension arises, the statue seems to be moving. If the sculptor had shown the athlete at the moment when the disc is torn from his hand, the meaning of the statue would be lost. There is a special beauty in this moment between two movements: the image is both mobile and calm. You can stand in front of a discus thrower and not be afraid that the disc will fly straight at you. This impression is created thanks to the balance achieved by Myron. Right hand, in contrast to the left, is directed backward, and the face of the Discobolus is turned not forward, where the disk should rush, but towards reverse side. There is an impression of both movement and stillness at the same time. Despite the fact that he must act, he seems to be frozen in eternity. Here the goal is not just to show movement in itself, but to show its involvement in beauty. Perhaps this is why the face and head of the Discus Thrower are devoid of individual features and are generally inactive: the sculptor seeks to depict not a specific athlete - but ideal person. The statue of the Discobolus, unfortunately, was preserved only in ancient Roman copies. The best, according to experts, is kept in the Massimi Palace in Rome.
6th place. Kiss
This sculpture was created in marble by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) in 1889. The sculpture “The Kiss” is one of Rodin’s most famous and beloved works. Looking at the lovers clinging to each other, it is difficult to imagine a more expressive embodiment of the theme of love. There is so much tenderness, chastity and at the same time sensuality and passion in the pose of this love couple. However, there is a very juicy story behind this idea. The fact is that the sculpture depicts an Italian aristocrat who fell in love younger brother her husband. And the characters are taken from Dante Alighieri’s work “The Divine Comedy”. The model for “The Kiss” was Rodin’s beloved Camille Claudel. This beautiful and a smart girl from a good family I dreamed of becoming a sculptor. For several years, Camille was Rodin's lover, although he did not stop living with his wife Rose Beure.
7th place. Themis, Justice or Lady Justice
One of the most famous sculptures in the world. Author unknown. The sculpture was sculpted in many variations; it is not attributed to any specific sculptor. The sculpture is also called "Blind Justice" and "Scales of Justice", there are other names. The date of appearance of such sculptures dates back to ancient times, when it was believed that a special goddess oversees justice.
8th place Pieta
The Lamentation of Christ is the first and most outstanding pieta made by Michelangelo Buonarroti. This is the only work by the sculptor that he signed (according to Vasari, after overhearing a conversation between onlookers who argued about its authorship). The life-size figures of the Virgin Mary and Christ were carved from marble by a 24-year-old master commissioned by French Cardinal Jean Bilair for his tomb. The Italian master rethought the traditional Northern Gothic sculptural image of the lifeless Christ in the arms of his mother in the spirit of high humanism. Madonna is presented by him as a very young and beautiful woman who mourns the loss of the person closest to her. Despite the difficulty of combining two such large figures in one sculpture, the composition of the Pietà is impeccable. The figures are created as a single whole, their connection is striking in its cohesion. At the same time, the sculptor subtly contrasts male and female, living and dead, naked and covered, vertical and horizontal, thereby introducing an element of tension into the composition. In terms of completeness and elaboration of details, the Pietà surpasses almost all other sculptural works of Michelangelo.
In the 18th century, the statue was moved to one of the chapels of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. During transportation, the fingers of Madonna's left hand were damaged. In 1972, the statue was attacked with a rock hammer by a Hungarian geologist, shouting that he was Christ. After restoration, the statue was installed behind bulletproof glass to the right of the entrance to the cathedral. Copies of the Pieta can be seen in many Catholic churches around the world, from Mexico to Korea.
9th place. "Pissing" boy.
Manneken Pis (Dutch Manneken Pis; Petit Julien in French) is one of the most famous attractions of Brussels, located in close proximity to the Grand Place. This is a miniature bronze fountain statue in the form of a naked boy defecating into a pool. The exact time and circumstances of the appearance of the statue are unknown. According to some sources, the statue existed already in the 15th century, possibly since 1388. Some Brussels residents say that it was installed as a reminder of the events of the Grimbergen War, when a cradle with the son of Godfrey III of Leuven was hung on a tree in order to inspire the townspeople with the sight of the future monarch, and the child from there urinated on the soldiers fighting under the tree. According to another legend, the statue was originally intended to remind the townspeople of the boy who extinguished the ammunition laid out by the enemy under the city walls with a stream of urine. The statue acquired its current appearance in 1619 thanks to the skill of Jerome Duquesnoy, a Mannerist court sculptor, father of the more famous Francois Duquesnoy. Since 1695, the statue has been stolen several times, including during the presence of Napoleonic troops in the city (the last time the statue was stolen was in the 1960s, after which it was once again replaced with a copy).
There are hundreds of copies of the “pissing” boy in the world, and in terms of the number of souvenirs, he has long been included in the Guinness Book of Records. Nevertheless, the artistic significance of "The Boy" is not great.
10th place. Mermaid
The Little Mermaid (Danish: Den Lille havfrue) is a statue depicting a character from the fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Andersen, located in the port of Copenhagen. The sculpture is 1.25 m tall and weighs about 175 kg. The author is Danish sculptor Edward Eriksen. The sculpture was unveiled on August 23, 1913. Made by order of the son of the founder of the Carlsberg brewery, Carl Jacobsen, who was fascinated by the ballet based on the fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen. He asked the prima ballerina, Ellen Price, to be the model for the statue. The ballerina refused to pose nude and the sculptor used her as a model only for the head of the Little Mermaid. Dancer Ellen Price posed for the Little Mermaid figure. future wife sculptor.
The Little Mermaid has become one of Copenhagen's most famous symbols and a world-famous tourist attraction, as evidenced by the fact that many cities have replicas of the statue.
In the modern world there are great amount a variety of sculptures for every taste. Perhaps each of them has its admirers, but only a few are known to a wide audience. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Top 20 most famous and best sculptures in the world.
Let's start with the most replicated sculpture, namely “ Venus de Milo". It is no secret that copies of this work can often be seen in the halls of various institutions. The author and date of creation of the sculpture are unknown, but it is assumed that it appeared around 130 BC. The original is on display in the Louvre.
For a long time, a statue by Michelangelo adorned central square Florence. This work appeared, illustrating biblical story about David and Goliath, in 1504. On this moment The sculpture, more than 5 meters high, is located in the Florentine Academy of Fine Arts, and the main square is decorated with a copy of it.
The most famous sculpture by Auguste Rodin was completed in 1882. And in 1906, this masterpiece was cast in bronze and enlarged to 181 cm. Now the original is in the Rodin Museum in Paris. And in different cities of the world you can see its copies.
The statue is one of the most popular ancient sculptures. The original bronze statue, presumably by Myron, was lost, but you can admire its copies made in Ancient Rome.
Bronze - the creation of Donatello, created in 1440. The sculpture illustrates the victory of David, looking with a mysterious smile at the severed head of the defeated Goliath. The original is located in the Florence National Museum.
The sculpture by Michelangelo was created in 1499. Depicts the Virgin Mary holding the crucified Jesus in her arms. The original is in the Vatican. The height is 1.74 meters.
The statue is the embodiment of the goddess Themis. There are many sculptures of this theme, it is difficult to choose the best one. But we can say for sure that this antique image is very popular.
Sculpture made of marble by Auguste Rodin in 1889. It is one of the illustrations for the work “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri. The original is on display at the Rodin Museum in France.
The only work of the ancient Greek creator Praxiteles that has survived to this day. The approximate year of its creation is 343 BC. The height with the pedestal is 3.7 meters. Now located in the Olympic Archaeological Museum.
Sculpture Christ the Redeemer 38 meters high, completed in 1931, it was elected one of the seven New Wonders of the World. The monument is located in Rio de Janeiro and is the main attraction of Brazil.
The most mysterious sculptures are located on Easter Island. The statues are carved from monolithic stone. There are 887 of them in total, all different sizes and weight. The method, and most importantly, the reason for their establishment is unknown.
"Great Sphinx"- the oldest of the grandiose sculptures that have come down to us. It is carved in the form of a huge sphinx from solid rock. The length is 73 meters, height - 20 meters. Located on the banks of the Nile River in the city of Giza.
Statue "Freedom" Made by French craftsmen and donated to the United States in 1885, it is a symbol of America. The height is 46 meters, with a pedestal - 93 meters, located on Liberty Island near Manhattan.
The most famous statue Belgium. Exact date and the details of the creation of the 61 cm tall bronze sculpture are unknown. Located in Brussels.
The statue is a landmark of Copenhagen. Created in 1913, the height of the sculpture is 1.25 m. It has been repeatedly subjected to acts of vandalism.
Buddha statue 71 meters high, located near the city of Leshan, this is one of the tallest Buddha images. The construction of this monument lasted 90 years, and began in 713.
Shiva statue 44 meters high, located in Nepal, it was built over 7 years from 2003 to 2010.
located in Trafalgar Square, this monument was erected in honor of Admiral Horatio Nelson in 1843. The 5.5 meter tall statue stands on a 46 meter high column.
Copper statue "Buddha of the Spring Temple" the highest on Earth, its height is 128 meters. It is located in China in the village of Zhaotsun, completed in 2002.
