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Famous Sculpture

Some of the Most Famous Sculpture in the World

Famous Sculptures Throughout History

If you enjoy collecting sculptures, you probably already have your favorite subjects.

David by Michelangelo

Perhaps you enjoy modern sculptures, with a free-form abstract approach.

Maybe you prefer human figures, some of which are startlingly lifelike. Or maybe your preferences are animals, either realistic or fantastic.

Sculpture, like any art, is strictly a matter of taste.

Nonetheless, certain sculptures are extremely well-known worldwide. While you will not be able to obtain the original of any of these famous sculptures, many of them have reproductions on the public market.

David

Of the many sculptures of the world, perhaps none is as well-known as Michelangelo’s statue of David. The piece was commissioned in 1501 by the Guild of the Wool Merchant, who was responsible for decorating and maintaining the Cathedral in Florence.

The piece is a stunning representation of the human form, as well as the first large nude to be displayed publicly since antiquity.

Only slightly less well-known is Donatello’s version of David.

Donatello was one of the finest artists of the Renaissance period, and he created the technique known as shallow relief in which the piece is created on a shallow plane yet gives the impression of great depth.

Donatello’s David was the first free standing nude of the Christian era.

The Pietá

Pieta by Michelangelo

Another stunning work by Michelangelo is the Pietá completed around 1499.

This sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary holding her dead son, Jesus, after the Crucifixion.

At the time it was created it was unlike any other sculpture in the world, combining classical beauty with naturalism.

The sculpture was meant to be a monument to a French cardinal, but it now resides in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

[In 1972, a mentally deranged man attacked the statute with a hammer, but the damage has been repaired.]

Venus de Milo

The Roman goddess Venus, known by the Greeks as Aphrodite, is the goddess of love and fertility. Several statues have been made in her honor, perhaps none as well-known as the original Venus de Milo.

Created by an unknown sculptor in the second century BC, the Venus de Milo was nearly lost to the ages.

It was discovered in the 19th century by a farmer on the Aegean island of Melos. Although it was missing its arms, it is believed that they held a shield and a mirror. The piece was eventually claimed by the French and named Venus de Milo.

Venus de Milo (Aphrodite)

The Thinker

One of Rodin’s most famous works, the Thinker was originally conceived as part of a larger artwork.

Rodin was commissioned to sculpt an enormous door based on Dante’s Divine Comedies for Paris’ Museum of Decorative Arts. The Thinker was meant to represent Dante himself, overlooking the door’s scenes from a spot at the top.

However, Rodin took a much broader approach and today the Thinker is seen to represent Everyman.

Veiled Rebekah

Although not as famous as the others on this list, Veiled Rebekah is considered one of the finest examples of marble sculpture.

Created by Giovanni in 1864, the statue represents Rebekah from the book of Genesis who, upon meeting her future husband, was said to have covered herself with her veil for modesty.

The piece is unique in its depiction of the veil, a sheer bit of marble clearly visible over the delineated features of the main figure.

Above are just a few of the many examples of famous sculpture subjects.

Many sculptures are based on prominent people of the Bible, while others reflect the mythology of various cultures.

Today, subjects may be found nearly anywhere, from historical figures to popular celebrities. You might choose to focus on a particular type of subject or gather an eclectic collection of sculptures that are meaningful to you.

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