Famous sculptures. Renaissance Sculpture

Statues are an important part of human history and culture. They are all different and different from each other, but we all heard about them sometime. Below is a list of the ten most famous statues in the world.

Manneken Pis - a symbol of Brussels, a miniature fountain figurine 61 cm high, made of bronze. Located next to the main Grand Place in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Exact time and the circumstances surrounding the creation of this statue are unknown. There are numerous urban legends about her appearance. According to some reports, it already existed in the 15th century, possibly from 1388.

The Little Mermaid is a bronze statue by Edward Eriksen, depicting a character from the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. The sculpture is located on a rock, on coastline Langelinier promenades in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is 1.25 m high and weighs 175 kg. It was opened on 23 August 1913. It is one of the most famous symbols of Copenhagen and a world famous tourist attraction. According to the German magazine Der Spiegel, the statue, located in the Copenhagen harbor, has always been a copy, and the original is kept by the sculptor's descendants in an unknown location.

The Thinker is an 181 cm high bronze sculpture by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin, on which he worked from 1880 to 1882. Since 1922 it has been in the collection of the Rodin Museum in Paris. It is now one of the most recognizable sculptures in the world. In addition to the original, there are about 20 more copies from plaster and bronze, located in different cities around the world.

The Motherland is a famous statue located on the Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd, Russia. It was dedicated to Soviet soldiers who fought in the Battle of Stalingrad during World War II. When the monument was completed in 1967, it was one of the tallest in the world for 22 years (85 meters). The figure itself is 52 meters long, the sword is 33 meters. The entire sculpture weighs about 8,000 tons.

The Leshan Buddha is a Buddha statue near the city of Leshan in the Chinese province of Sichuan. It has a height of 71 meters, which makes it one of the most tall statues Buddhas in the world. It was carved into the rock at the confluence of the Ming and Dadu rivers. Its construction began in 713 under the leadership of the Chinese monk Hai Tong during the Tang Dynasty. He hoped the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that interfere with navigable ships sailing along the river. The work was completed after 90 years.

The giant stone Olmec heads are a series of sculptures on the Gulf Coast of Mexico that represent large human heads. Carved from basalt boulders, they date back to at least 900 BC. NS. and are a distinctive attribute of the ancient Mesoamerican Olmec civilization. Each of the 17 famous statues has a distinctive headdress. The back of the monuments is mostly flat. The smallest of the heads weighs 6 tons, while the largest, according to various estimates, is from 40 to 50 tons.

Moai are monolithic statues carved from volcanic rocks on Easter Island. Of the more than 900 in existence, most date back to the period between 1250 and 1500. There are many hypotheses about who carved the moai. The most popular of these say they were made by Polynesian settlers. Typical statues are 3-5 m and weigh less than 5 tons. The largest moai, the so-called Paro, is about 10 meters high and weighs 75 tons.

Great sphinx

The Great Sphinx is a monumental sculpture of the Sphinx located on the Giza plateau in Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile, near present-day Cairo. It has a length of 73 m and a height of 20 m. It was carved out of a monolithic limestone rock in about 2550 BC at the initiative of Khafre, the son of Cheops, the fourth pharaoh of Egypt from the IV dynasty.

The Christ the Redeemer Statue is the famous statue of Jesus Christ built on top of the granite Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was erected between 1922 and 1931 and was inaugurated to the public on October 12, 1931. The statue is 39.6 m high (with a pedestal of 9.5 m) and weighs 635 tons is one of the main attractions of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil in general. At least 1.8 million tourists visit it annually.

The Statue of Liberty is a US national monument, a symbol of freedom, democracy and justice, one of the most famous sculptures in the world, often called the "symbol of New York and the United States." It is a gift from French citizens for the centenary of the American Revolution. This monumental neoclassical building was erected in 1884-1886 by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, Gustave Eiffel (construction) and Richard Morris Hunt (pedestal). The height of the statue is 93 m, the total weight is 204.1 tons.

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Probably, the sculptures appeared almost simultaneously with rock painting... The figures of people are the same pictures, but only three-dimensional. What the author is trying to express is perceived by us much easier and better, because they are so similar to us and more tangible than, for example, portraits. We have collected 13 of the most famous sculptures that were created in different time and became an example for admiration and imitation.

"Venus de Milo"

Perhaps this particular sculpture is the most recognizable, however, it has not yet been possible to establish the author. The only thing that is known for certain is the time of its creation - 130 BC. NS. Now the statue of Venus de Milo is in the Louvre and is a matter of national pride for the French. It is noteworthy that Venus lacks not only hands. Initially, the stone girl had jewelry: bracelets, earrings, tiara. They disappeared a long time ago, but the holes for their fastening are still visible in the marble.

"David"

The creator of "David" is Michelangelo Buonarroti, who lived in Italy during the Renaissance. His "David" is full-length and does not rely on anything. The sculpture was supposed to become part of the architectural composition, but this did not happen for unknown reasons.

"Thinker"

The Thinker by O. Rodin is in Paris. The model for the creation was the muscular boxer Jean Bo, who later posed for the sculptor several times. Initially, the master named his work "The Poet" and conceived it as an image of Dante. But the thin poet was in no way associated with muscles and strength. After The Thinker became a popular and recognized work of art, Rodin cast another 10 bronze copies.

"Discus thrower"

Another famous representative of ancient art is the "Discobolus" statue, which was cast from bronze as far back as 450 BC. NS. Later, several marble copies appeared, and the original was lost without a trace. Presumably the author of the sculpture was a certain Miron, who was the first to bring the idea of ​​movement to life.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer

She is the main attraction of Rio de Janeiro. Every year, to see this greatness towering over the city, about 2 million tourists come here, ready to climb 220 steps to get to the monument. Not so long ago, the statue was included in the list of Wonders of the World. It was erected back in 1931, and its height is 38 meters.

Moai

Perhaps these are the most mysterious and enigmatic statues that are located on Easter Island. 50 silent and monolithic giants are turned to face the center of the island. But who and when installed them is unknown. Aboriginal people claim that the statues can move independently.

Great Sphinx

Now the Sphinx has a sandy "color", but at the time of its "youth" it was covered with yellow and blue paint, the remains of which were found by archaeologists on its "body". He also had a beard and headdress. However, as a result of restoration work, these elements were damaged: part of the beard is still kept in the British Museum, but the "hat" has not been restored.

Statue of Liberty

Her full name sounds like "Freedom Illuminating the World." The statue was presented to the Americans from the French, who supported the belligerent policies of the state state. To deliver the Svoboda to the United States, it had to be disassembled into 350 parts and loaded onto a ship. The transportation was also difficult because the total weight of the sculpture exceeds 150 tons, and it took about 4 months to assemble and install the statue.

"Manneken Pis"

The most famous lad from Brussels has been “peeing” since about 1388, and since the 17th century there has been a tradition of dressing him up in a variety of costumes. More than 800 outfits are carefully preserved in the Royal Museum. For several centuries, the boy has been in the form of Santa Claus, Count Dracula, Elvis, Mozart, and even tried on the uniform of the American military.

"Mermaid"

The bronze "Little Mermaid" is not only a symbol of Copenhagen, but also of the whole of Denmark. There is a belief that as long as the little mermaid is safe, everything will be fine in the country. It is for this reason that the authorities are passionately fighting vandals: over the entire period of her existence, the girl has more than once lost her head, she has been repeatedly doused with paint and even blown up.

"Nika of Samothrace"

The sculpture of the Goddess of Victory is the most valuable exhibit in the Louvre. She has no hands or head, but this does not in the least prevent her from being a symbol of constant movement forward. Depending on which side you look at it from, it is different, but always flying towards the goal.

"The Motherland Calls"

This sculpture, like no other, conveys the steadfastness of Soviet soldiers and selfless devotion to their homeland. In the original project, two figures were present: a woman with a Red Banner in her hand and a soldier bowing before her. However, it was decided to abandon this idea, as well as the plinth with a magnificent decoration.

Maitreya Buddha statue

The Chinese Buddha Maitreya is carved into the rock and is located where 3 rivers merge in a dangerous whirlpool at once. According to legend, the statue was supposed to pacify the water element, and the creators partially succeeded: in the process of cutting down, stone fragments fell into the river and covered it. It took about 90 years to create one of the tallest monuments in the world.

Back in the days of living in caves, people came up with the idea of ​​creating rock carvings, perpetuating memorable historical dates. And then man learned to carve and sculpt sculptures from various materials. Today, there are many of the most famous sculptures in the world that attract the attention of people interested in such art. And who created the most famous sculptures in the world, what is their meaning and where are they located?

This most famous sculpture in the world depicts the ancient Greek goddess of love Aphrodite. The date of its creation is approximately the 2nd century BC. It is believed that the sculpture was made by Agesander of Antioch. The marble-carved statue is just over two meters high. The statue was found by a French sailor in 1820 (on the island of Milos), who went ashore and carried out excavations at the site of the ruins of an ancient amphitheater together with a local peasant. At first, Aphrodite's hands were in place, but later lost during a dispute that occurred between the French, who decided to take the sculpture to their homeland, and the owners of the island, the Turks, who did not want to release such valuable antiquities from their homelands. Today this sculpture is in the Louvre.

This sculptural image was created by the hand of Michelangelo (at the age of 28). The 5-meter statue of the second king of Israel, who ruled for 40 years, became the real pinnacle of the art of the Renaissance. Jewish prophecy said that the Messiah would come out of the line of David. And, according to the records of the New Testament of Christians, the origin of Christ from King David took place. That is why this image of the ideal ruler is the most replicated in the whole world.

This 1.5-meter bronze sculpture was created in 1440 by Donatello. This sculpture is the first of those that depict the naked body of a person. David mysteriously smiles and contemplates the head of the just killed Goliath.

The statue was created in honor of the goddess Nike. It was erected by the people living on the island of Rhodes, in honor of the victory they won over the fleet of the king of Syria. The statue of the goddess was installed on a rock, and its pedestal was made in the form of a ship's bow. The sculpture was found in 1863 on the island of Samothraki. Just looking at this statue with fluttering clothes, you can feel tremendous power and an irrepressible desire to go only forward. The statue is housed in the Louvre today.

This is one of the most famous sculptures in the world, which was created by Auguste Rodin in 1882. At first, the author decided to name his creation "The Poet" - the sculpture was to be included in a composition called "The Gates of Hell" ("Divine Comedy"). But then the author's intention was somewhat changed, and the image of Dante was replaced by a unique creator. The model for this sculpture was the Frenchman Jean Bo, who personified physical strength. Currently, at least twenty copies of this sculpture have been created in bronze and marble. One of the bronze sculptures is located on the author's grave in Meudon.

In this sculpture, the famous sculptor Michelangelo conveyed all the grief of the Virgin Mary for her lost son. This creation was created by the author at the age of 24 and is one of his best works, which is simply saturated with emotions, humanity and deep symbolism. In addition, Pieta is the only work by Michelangelo that bears his signature.

This is the goddess of justice in Ancient Greece... Themis has a blindfold, and also holds a horn and scales in her hands. The bandage signifies equanimity, the scales signify the weighing of good and evil, and the cornucopia indicates retribution or non-retribution of the one who was brought before the goddess's judgment. Such a sculpture was installed at the entrance to the building of the Russian Supreme Court, but without a blindfold, which caused a lot of harsh comments in the media.

The bust of Nefertiti is one of the most famous sculptures in the world. The ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti was the wife of Akhenaten, who was known as an excellent reformer. The bust of the queen was made of limestone and is completely painted. For quite a long time, Egypt and Germany have not come to a compromise over who should own this sculpture.

The characters in this marble sculpture, also by Rodin, are taken from The Divine Comedy. It was created by its author in 1889. This creation of the great sculptor depicts an aristocrat from Italy who fell in love with her husband's younger brother - this happened while reading a work of love. As a result, the husband, upon learning of this, killed both of them. The sculpture is made in such a way that the man does not touch the woman's lips, which indicates that they did not commit a sin, but were still killed.

This is the first antique statue to depict a person in motion. The first such sculpture was created in 450 from bronze - the sculptor Miron is considered its author. What we can see today is already a copy of the original sculpture (the original was lost in the Middle Ages). In addition, there are quite a few copies of the Discobol in our time.

Hermes with Dionysus in his arms

This statue, depicting Hermes with the infant Dionysus, is made of marble. It was found during excavations of the Temple of Hera (Olympia) in 1887. In height, Hermes reaches 2.12 m, and together with the pedestal, the height of the sculpture is 3.70 m. Today, this sculpture with partially lost limbs of Hermes and Dionysus is in the Olympia Museum.

This sculptural group was created in 1888 by Rodin at the request of the Calais authorities. It contains a part of the history of the city, when the English king Edward III took the city under siege, and people tired and exhausted from hunger were forced to surrender. Then the king demanded that six noble people come out to him with ropes around their necks and in rags to allow themselves to be executed - in this case, he promised to leave all the inhabitants of the city alive. Seeing the exhausted and emaciated people of Calais, the English queen took pity on them and begged the king in the name of their unborn child to save their lives. Rodin categorically refused to create this composition on a pedestal - the figures of the citizens of Calais are located on the same level with those who want to look at the sculptural group.

This is one of the most famous and tallest statues in the world, which is located in Volgograd. The height of the statue is 52 meters. The figure of a woman who has taken a step forward calls her sons to defend the Motherland.

This statue, installed in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), is famous all over the world. It is located at an altitude of 700 meters above the sea. The height of the Christ figure is 30 meters. A statue was installed on the Corcovado hill in 1931. This is a fairly popular statue, so in some other countries they even tried to repeat it.

This sculpture found in Brussels is very famous. When and by whom this sculpture was created is unknown. Many legends and traditions are associated with it. But we can definitely say that the sculpture is more than one hundred years old - there is some evidence that it already existed in the 15th century.

V modern world a huge number of various sculptures for every taste are presented. Perhaps, each of them will have their own admirers, but only a few are known to a wide audience. We offer you to familiarize yourself with the Top 20 of the 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 at the Louvre.

For a long time, the statue by Michelangelo adorned the central square of Florence. This work, illustrating the biblical story of David and Goliath, appeared 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 increased to 181 cm. Now the original is in the Musée Rodin in Paris. And in different cities of the world you can see copies of it.

The statue is one of the most popular antique sculptures... The original bronze statue, presumably by Myron, has been lost, but you can admire its copies made in Ancient Rome.

Bronze - Donatello's creation, created in 1440. The sculpture illustrates the victory of David, with a mysterious smile looking at the severed head of the defeated Goliath. The original is housed in the Florentine National Museum.

The sculpture by Michelangelo was created in 1499. Depicts the Virgin Mary with the crucified Jesus in her arms. The original is at 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 select 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 Musée Rodin 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. Height with a pedestal is 3.7 meters. Now it is in the Olympic Archaeological Museum.

Sculpture Christ the Redeemer 38 meters high, finished 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 were knocked out of monolithic stone. There are 887 of them in total, all of different sizes and weights. 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 was carved in the form of a huge sphinx from a solid rock. The length is 73 meters, the height is 20 meters. Located on the banks of the Nile River in the city of Giza.

The statue "Freedom" made by French craftsmen and donated to the USA 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 in Belgium. The exact date and details of the creation of the 61 cm high 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 vandalized.

Statue of buddha height of 71 meters is located near the city of Leshan, this is one of the tallest images of Buddha. The construction of this monument lasted 90 years, and the beginning was laid in 713.

Shiva statue 44 meters high is located in Nepal, was built for 7 years from 2003 to 2010.

located on Trafalgar Square, this monument was erected in honor of Admiral Horatio Nelson in 1843. The 5.5-meter-high statue stands on a 46-meter pillar.

Copper statue "Buddha of the Spring Temple" the tallest on Earth, its height is 128 meters. It is located in China in the village of Zhaocun, completed in 2002.

To paraphrase the German art theorist Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling, we can say that sculpture is music frozen in stone. While millions of tourists are photographed against the backdrop of world-famous masterpieces by Bernini, Michelangelo and Rodin, we bring you a selection of 25 lesser-known but noteworthy stone, bronze and steel statues.

Funny and cute, sometimes strange and frightening, they cheer up passers-by and make the cities they are in a little more unusual.

Mustangs of Las Colinas in Irving (Texas, USA)


It is one of the largest sculptured groups of horses in the world. It symbolizes the dynamics and liberated spirit that were inherent in Texas during the period of its development.

Expansion, New York, USA

The author comments on this sculpture: “From the moment of our birth, the world offers us a ready-made shell that we must fit into: social security number, gender, race, profession. I thought: what we really are - this outer shell in which we live, or what is under it, inside each of us? Do we recognize ourselves if we go beyond our body? "

Monument to an Unknown Passerby, Wroclaw, Poland


The sculpture symbolizes the suppression of the individual during communism and the underground anti-communist activities of the Poles in the 1980s.

Salmon, Portland, USA


Portland is a major port city and this fish attracts visitors to one of its most famous restaurants.

People by the river, Singapore


The author of this composition, Chong Fah Cheong (Chong Fah Cheong) is known for the large number of sculptures depicting people who live and work on the banks of the Singapore River.

Shoes on the banks of the Danube, Budapest, Hungary

The sculpture commemorates the Jews killed by the Nazis in Budapest during World War II. They were ordered to take off their shoes and were shot by the water. The bodies of the victims fell into the river and were carried away by the current. Only shoes remained as a reminder of the tragedy.

Sculpture "No to Violence" (also known as "The Knotted Pistol"), New York, USA


It was created by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd in late 1980 to commemorate the murder of John Lennon, who was a friend of the sculptor.

Break through from your mold, Philadelphia, USA


This composition symbolizes the desire for immortality. 4 figures are one and the same person who gradually awakens from sleep, throws off the shackles, and breaks free to meet eternal life.

Black ghost (Juodasis Vaiduoklis), Klaipeda, Lithuania


According to the legend, in 1595 one of the guards of the Klaipeda castle saw a ghost who warned the guard that the city needed to increase its grain and timber reserves. Having said this, the spirit evaporated. It is believed that making friends with a supernatural being will bring wealth and good fortune.

Travelers (Les voyageurs), Marseille, France


A series of sculptures by the Frenchman Bruno Catalano was installed in the port of Marseille in 2013. Each figure is missing a significant part of the body. One can only guess about the reasons for such emptiness: is it because these people lack something, or did they just leave a part of their soul somewhere while traveling?

Nelson Mandela Memorial, South Africa


The composition was installed in honor of the 50th anniversary of the arrest of a human rights activist during the period of apartheid. The monument was erected where Mandela was arrested, and consists of 50 steel columns, symbolizing the prison bars, behind which the 8th President of South Africa was held for 27 years.

"De Vaartkapoen", Brussels, Belgium


Created in 1985, this playful statue shows a police officer tripping over an intruder hiding in a manhole.

Cattle Drive, Dallas, USA

Maman (giant spider), London, UK


A bronze sculpture of a giant spider is housed in the Tate Modern.

Hippos, Taipei, Taiwan

Sinking Building at the State Library, Melbourne, Australia

Iguana Park, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Observer, Bratislava, Slovakia


On English language this sculpture is called "Worker", however, its name is translated from Slovak as "observer". This bronze plumber is watching passers-by right from the manhole. Tourists believe that if you rub the hand of the sculpture, then all wishes will come true.

Mihai Eminescu, Onesti, Romania

Monument to the classic of Romanian literature
Episode of the First World War with figures of soldiers in full growth, Eceabat, Turkey


During the First World War, land battles of the Dardanelles operation took place on the territory of the region.

Hanging Man, Prague, Czech Republic
25 unusual sculptures you may not have known about


Who do you think this sculpture represents? Oddly enough, this is the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. The sculptor David Černý created this piece in response to the question of what role intellectuals will play in the new millennium. According to the author, the founder of psychoanalysis is the embodiment of the 20th century intellectual.

Kelpie, Grangemouth, UK


Kelpies in Scottish mythology are a water spirit hostile to people that lives in many rivers in lakes. He appears in the guise of a horse grazing by the water, but can turn into a sea lizard, and therefore he is often associated with the Loch Ness monster.

Pigs in front shopping center Rundle Mall, Adelaide, Australia


The pigs are named Oliver, Augusta, Horatio and Truffle.

Unidentified official, Reykjavik, Iceland

Perhaps the only statue in the world dedicated to faceless bureaucratic work.

Headington Shark, Oxford, England

The shark created by sculptor John Buckley caused a lot of controversy when it first appeared in public. Oxford City Council attempted to remove it from the building for security reasons, and then on the grounds that it did not give planning permission for the installation of the shark statue. It was proposed to move it to a local pool, but many local residents supported the idea of ​​leaving the shark on the building. By the way, the meaning of the sculpture is much deeper than it might seem at first glance: it was installed on the 41st anniversary of the fall of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. In a sense, the shark represents a beautiful but potentially deadly rocket.