The final study I'll do pertaining to monumental architecture is a list of the most iconic statues. While sculpting is a whole different artform than architecture, it still shares the basic principles which is constructing a physical structure. Many of the most iconic sculptures actually had to incorporate architectural designs for their foundations and such. The sculptures on this list are all behemoths, large in size and significance. They are cultural monuments, that serve as symbols of the people's past and their present. (Just as I excluded the Eiffel Tower from my favorite towers list, I'm going to exclude the Moai and The Christ the Redeemer statues from this list since they are already included in my favorite wonders list. For the record the Christ the Redeemer statue would be my all time favorite statue).
My Top Ten Favorite Monumental Statues
10. The Thinker
Sculptor: Auguste Rodin
Year Constructed: 1880
Location: Paris, France
Material: Bronze Sculpture
Size: 6 feet high
Significance: Rodin's famous thinker sculpture of a nude man sitting with his chin on his hand has become one of the most replicated statues of all time. It was originally built as a part of a statue Rodin sculpted known as the Gates of Hell which was a reference to Dante's Divine Comedy. The thinker in the statue was meant to represent an artist who could either be seen as Dante looking down upon those in the inferno, or Rodin himself considering his work. Other interpretations is that it is Adam reflecting upon his sin that has doomed mankind. From this statue, the thinker became it's own statue, usually sitting on some form of pedestal. There are currently about 28 life size monuments of Rodin's iconic Thinker statue.
9. Spring Temple Buddha
Sculptor:
Year Constructed: 2009
Location: Leshan County, Henan, China
Material: Gold and copper alloy
Size: 420 feet
Significance: It is the tallest monumental statue in the world, built as a homage the Buddhist God. It is still somewhat of a modern undiscovered wonder, since it is 2 hours away from the nearest town in China. However considering the sheer size of this behemoth statue, it can be seen from miles away. The statue is a part of the sacred area known as the Fodushan Scenic Area which consists of the ancient Foquan Temple and the Bell of Good Luck.. Standing on top of it's pedestal among a green valley this glimmering Spring Temple Buddha is a true sight to behold.
8. Pieta
Sculptor: Michelangelo
Year Constructed: 1499
Location: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Material: Cararra Marble
Size: 5.7 feet high, 6.4 ft wide
Significance: It is one of the most famous classical sculptures of the Italian Renaissance. It depicts the Mother Mary carrying her son Jesus after the Crucifixion. The detail on the statue is incredible as it incorporates a groundbreaking style of realism. This status is one of Michelangelo's greatest works and sits at St. Peter's Basilica.
7. Mount Rushmure
Sculptor: Gutzon Borglum and Lincoln Borglum
Year Constructed: 1927-1941
Location: Pennington County, South Dakota
Material: Granite rock
Size: 60 feet
Significance: It is an American landmark, located in the Black Hill mountains of South Dakota. Carved out of the mountain are four giants faces depicting some of America's finest presidents; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The statue took 14 years to complete and is the main attraction of a national park.
6. Venus de Milo
Sculptor: Alexandros of Antioch
Year Constructed: 130-100 BC
Location: Built in Greece; Housed in the Louvre Museum of Paris
Material: Marble
Size: 6'8 feet high
Significance: It is one of most famous works of ancient Greek culture, believed to have been sculpted in 130 BC by Alexandros of Antioch. The sculpture depicts the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. The statue was discovered with it's arm's missing in 1820 among ancient ruins. It was quickly identified as a masterpiece of Greek art and enshrined in the greatest of art museums.
5. Abraham Lincoln
Sculptor: Daniel Chester French
Year Constructed: 1920
Location: Washington, DC
Material: Georgia Marble
Size: 30 feet high
Significance: It is the center piece statue of a memorial building in Washington DC to honor the great President Lincoln. The statue is of white marble and carved with impeccable detail of the president. What makes it even more unique is the building of which it is enclosed in, The Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is a classical structure of great white pillars and steps, mounted on a hill. It is a fitting home for this monumental statue which encapsulates the classical theme of Washington DC.
4. Great Sphinx of Giza
Built By: The Ancient Egyptians during the Reign of Pharaoh Khafre
Year Constructed: 2558-2532 BC
Location: Giza, Egypt
Material: Limestone
Size: 66.3 feet high, 238 feet long
Significance: Along with the Great Pyramids it is one of the oldest man-made structures still standing. The statue represents a mythical creature with the head of a man and a body of a lion. This regal statue is believed to have been commissioned by the Pharaoh Khafre and his own personal monument. It is one of the most famous icons of the historic Egyptian culture.
3. The Motherland Calls
Sculptor: Yevgeny Vuchetich
Year Constructed: 1967
Location: Volgograd, Russia
Material: Stone, Concrete
Size: 279 feet
Significance: Built in 1967 it was once the tallest statue in the world, not standing on a pedestal. The statue depicts a glorious female warrior, dressed in robes, leading a charge with a sword in one hand while her other hand gestures others to follow her. The statue was built as a commemoration to the lives lost at the Battle of Stalingrad one of the bloodiest battles in WWII. It has become an iconic statue of Russian culture and heritage.
2. Statue of Liberty
Sculptor: Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, Gustave Eiffel
Year Constructed: 1886
Location: New York City, New York (Built in France)
Material: Copper
Size: 305 feet (151 ft statue, 154 ft pedestal)
Significance: It is the most famous monumental statue in the world overlooking the New York City Harbor. The statue was actually dedicated as a gift from France to the United States. The architecture was designed by Gustave Eiffel (the same guy who designed the Eiffel tower) and sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It depicts the Roman goddess Libertas, a robbed female carrying a torch in one hand and a tablet of laws in the other hand. She also wears a crown which serves as a lookout point for people who climb the stairs to the top. The statue has an iconic green color and in the nighttime the torch is light. I have actually seen this statue in person and was quite impressed by it. It is one of the most iconic symbols of American culture, freedom, and liberty.
1. David
Sculptor: Michelangelo
Year Constructed: 1501
Location: Florence, Italy (Galleria dell' Academia)
Material: Marble
Size: 17 feet
Significance: It is in my opinion the most famous and masterful statue of all time. It is one of the most iconic artworks of the Italian Renaissance as it represents complete liberty with it's detail. The statue depicts the biblical hero of David carrying his sling that defeated the giant Goliath. David is perhaps one of the most romantic and heroic characters in the bible. He was a soldier who became a king of the Isralites. He was known for his courage, strength, wisdom, leadership, poetry, music, and so much more. This statue leaves nothing to the imagination as it displays David in all his glory. It was first built to stand outside the Cathedral of Florence, however was positioned in a central plaza in Florence. In 1873 the statue was moved to the Galleria dell' Academia in Florence to conserve the masterful statue in a museum. It is Michelangelo's greatest work of art, above his Last Judgement painting and Pieta statue, and the most iconic statues of all time.
My Top Ten Favorite Monumental Statues
10. The Thinker
Sculptor: Auguste Rodin
Year Constructed: 1880
Location: Paris, France
Material: Bronze Sculpture
Size: 6 feet high
Significance: Rodin's famous thinker sculpture of a nude man sitting with his chin on his hand has become one of the most replicated statues of all time. It was originally built as a part of a statue Rodin sculpted known as the Gates of Hell which was a reference to Dante's Divine Comedy. The thinker in the statue was meant to represent an artist who could either be seen as Dante looking down upon those in the inferno, or Rodin himself considering his work. Other interpretations is that it is Adam reflecting upon his sin that has doomed mankind. From this statue, the thinker became it's own statue, usually sitting on some form of pedestal. There are currently about 28 life size monuments of Rodin's iconic Thinker statue.
9. Spring Temple Buddha
Sculptor:
Year Constructed: 2009
Location: Leshan County, Henan, China
Material: Gold and copper alloy
Size: 420 feet
Significance: It is the tallest monumental statue in the world, built as a homage the Buddhist God. It is still somewhat of a modern undiscovered wonder, since it is 2 hours away from the nearest town in China. However considering the sheer size of this behemoth statue, it can be seen from miles away. The statue is a part of the sacred area known as the Fodushan Scenic Area which consists of the ancient Foquan Temple and the Bell of Good Luck.. Standing on top of it's pedestal among a green valley this glimmering Spring Temple Buddha is a true sight to behold.
8. Pieta
Sculptor: Michelangelo
Year Constructed: 1499
Location: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Material: Cararra Marble
Size: 5.7 feet high, 6.4 ft wide
Significance: It is one of the most famous classical sculptures of the Italian Renaissance. It depicts the Mother Mary carrying her son Jesus after the Crucifixion. The detail on the statue is incredible as it incorporates a groundbreaking style of realism. This status is one of Michelangelo's greatest works and sits at St. Peter's Basilica.
7. Mount Rushmure
Sculptor: Gutzon Borglum and Lincoln Borglum
Year Constructed: 1927-1941
Location: Pennington County, South DakotaMaterial: Granite rock
Size: 60 feet
Significance: It is an American landmark, located in the Black Hill mountains of South Dakota. Carved out of the mountain are four giants faces depicting some of America's finest presidents; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The statue took 14 years to complete and is the main attraction of a national park.
6. Venus de Milo
Sculptor: Alexandros of Antioch
Year Constructed: 130-100 BC
Location: Built in Greece; Housed in the Louvre Museum of Paris
Material: Marble
Size: 6'8 feet high
Significance: It is one of most famous works of ancient Greek culture, believed to have been sculpted in 130 BC by Alexandros of Antioch. The sculpture depicts the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. The statue was discovered with it's arm's missing in 1820 among ancient ruins. It was quickly identified as a masterpiece of Greek art and enshrined in the greatest of art museums.
5. Abraham Lincoln
Sculptor: Daniel Chester French
Location: Washington, DC
Material: Georgia Marble
Size: 30 feet high
Significance: It is the center piece statue of a memorial building in Washington DC to honor the great President Lincoln. The statue is of white marble and carved with impeccable detail of the president. What makes it even more unique is the building of which it is enclosed in, The Lincoln Memorial. The memorial is a classical structure of great white pillars and steps, mounted on a hill. It is a fitting home for this monumental statue which encapsulates the classical theme of Washington DC.
Built By: The Ancient Egyptians during the Reign of Pharaoh Khafre
Year Constructed: 2558-2532 BC
Location: Giza, Egypt
Material: Limestone
Size: 66.3 feet high, 238 feet long
Significance: Along with the Great Pyramids it is one of the oldest man-made structures still standing. The statue represents a mythical creature with the head of a man and a body of a lion. This regal statue is believed to have been commissioned by the Pharaoh Khafre and his own personal monument. It is one of the most famous icons of the historic Egyptian culture.
3. The Motherland Calls
Sculptor: Yevgeny VuchetichYear Constructed: 1967
Location: Volgograd, Russia
Material: Stone, Concrete
Size: 279 feet
Significance: Built in 1967 it was once the tallest statue in the world, not standing on a pedestal. The statue depicts a glorious female warrior, dressed in robes, leading a charge with a sword in one hand while her other hand gestures others to follow her. The statue was built as a commemoration to the lives lost at the Battle of Stalingrad one of the bloodiest battles in WWII. It has become an iconic statue of Russian culture and heritage.
2. Statue of Liberty
Sculptor: Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, Gustave Eiffel
Location: New York City, New York (Built in France)
Material: Copper
Size: 305 feet (151 ft statue, 154 ft pedestal)
Significance: It is the most famous monumental statue in the world overlooking the New York City Harbor. The statue was actually dedicated as a gift from France to the United States. The architecture was designed by Gustave Eiffel (the same guy who designed the Eiffel tower) and sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It depicts the Roman goddess Libertas, a robbed female carrying a torch in one hand and a tablet of laws in the other hand. She also wears a crown which serves as a lookout point for people who climb the stairs to the top. The statue has an iconic green color and in the nighttime the torch is light. I have actually seen this statue in person and was quite impressed by it. It is one of the most iconic symbols of American culture, freedom, and liberty.
1. David
Sculptor: Michelangelo
Year Constructed: 1501Location: Florence, Italy (Galleria dell' Academia)
Material: Marble
Size: 17 feet
Significance: It is in my opinion the most famous and masterful statue of all time. It is one of the most iconic artworks of the Italian Renaissance as it represents complete liberty with it's detail. The statue depicts the biblical hero of David carrying his sling that defeated the giant Goliath. David is perhaps one of the most romantic and heroic characters in the bible. He was a soldier who became a king of the Isralites. He was known for his courage, strength, wisdom, leadership, poetry, music, and so much more. This statue leaves nothing to the imagination as it displays David in all his glory. It was first built to stand outside the Cathedral of Florence, however was positioned in a central plaza in Florence. In 1873 the statue was moved to the Galleria dell' Academia in Florence to conserve the masterful statue in a museum. It is Michelangelo's greatest work of art, above his Last Judgement painting and Pieta statue, and the most iconic statues of all time.
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