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Originally commissioned in 1505 by Pope Julius II for his tomb, the marble sculpture depicts the biblical figure Moses with horns on his head. It's housed in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, in Rome.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini created this masterpiece for a chapel in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. It's considered to be one of the sculptural masterpieces of the High Roman Baroque.
One of the best-known symbols of Brussels and Belgium, this little bronze statue is only 21 inches (55.5 cm) tall. The statue has been repeatedly stolen or damaged throughout its history. Since 1965, a replica has been displayed, with the original stored in the Brussels City Museum.
Based on the 1837 fairy tale of the same name by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, this bronze statue is a Copenhagen icon. In recent years, it has also become a popular target for defacement by vandals and political activists.
Regarded as a Baroque masterpiece, this marble statue was commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in 1622. It depicts a scene in Ovid's 'Metamorphoses,' where the nymph Daphne escapes Apollo's advances by transforming into a tree.
The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius is a remarkable ancient Roman bronze statue that stands 13.9 feet (4.24 meters) tall. It's the only remaining equestrian statue from the Roman Empire. It is displayed in the Capitoline Museums in Rome.
A cultural icon of both Rio de Janiero and Brazil, this statue of Jesus is the largest in the world made in Art Deco style. Paul Landowski, a prominent French sculptor, created the statue, while Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and French engineer Albert Caquot oversaw its construction. Additionally, Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida was responsible for crafting the face of the statue.
One of Rodin's most significant works, the marble sculpture portrays Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta from Dante's 'Divine Comedy.'
Myron's Discobolus is an ancient Greek sculpture that has become one of the most iconic artworks of classical antiquity. The original bronze statue was unfortunately lost, but it's known through numerous Roman copies.
The colossal neoclassical statue was gifted to the US by the French people in 1876 to commemorate the centennial of American Independence and the recent abolition of slavery. The design was by Bartholdi, while the internal structure was built by Gustave Eiffel, architect of the Eiffel Tower.
Situated in the Vatican, this impressive marble statue depicts Mary holding the lifeless body of Jesus after he was crucified. It's considered a key work of Italian Renaissance sculpture.
Excavated on the Greek island of Samothrace by Charles Champoiseau in 1863, this masterpiece resides in the Louvre Museum. Greece is seeking the return of the sculpture.
Thought to be the work of Alexandros of Antioch, Venus de Milo is believed to represent Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. The sculpture was discovered in pieces on the Aegean island of Melos in 1820, and presented to King Louis XVIII. Today it's displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Bourgeois' signature work, Spider exists in numerous versions of varying scale. It's meant as a tribute to the artist's mother, a tapestry restorer.
Rodin's renowned bronze sculpture, The Thinker, is a monumental depiction of a muscular male placed on a rock. Now exhibited at the Musée Rodin in Paris, there are 27 other full-sized castings.
Also known as The Bean by Chicagoans, Cloud Gate is a public art centerpiece at the Second City's Millennium Park. Fabricated from mirrored steel, it measures 33 by 66 by 42 feet (10 by 20 by 13 meters).
Sources: (Time Out) (Artlex)
See also: Self-portraits of great artists
This contemporary sculpture is located near the town of Gateshead in northeastern England. It stands 66 feet (20 meters) tall with a wingspan of 177 feet (54 meters). According to Gormley, it's meant as a symbolic marker between Britain's industrial past and its post-industrial future.
In 1913 at his Paris studio, Duchamp mounted a bicycle wheel upside down onto a stool, spinning it occasionally just to watch it. The original version of 1913 and the second version of 1916-1917 were both lost. However, Duchamp recreated another version of the sculpture in 1951.
The Brillo Box is a series of sculptural works Warhol created in the mid '60s. Made in multiples, the boxes were often shown in large stacks, turning the gallery they were in into a pop culture warehouse.
Found in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, this bronze sculpture by Maillol is one of six examples around the world. It was modelled after his muse, Dina Vierny.
This sculpture commemorates an event during the Hundred Years' War, when Calais, a French port on the English Channel, surrendered to the English after an 11-month siege. The city commissioned Rodin to create the sculpture in 1884. He made 12 original castings.
This bronze Futurist sculpture by Umberto Boccioni is seen as an expression of movement and fluidity. The sculpture is depicted on the obverse of the Italian 20 cent euro coin.
Canova is considered to be one the greatest sculptors of the late 18th-century. His rendition in marble of the Greek mythical hero Perseus, which epitomizes the Neo-Classical style, is actually one of two versions. The first resides in the Vatican in Rome, while the other stands in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture Court.
This masterpiece from the Italian Renaissance stand an impressive 17 feet (5.17 meters) tall. Made of marble, it's a representation of the Biblical hero, portrayed as a standing male nude. Commissioned by the Opera del Duomo for the Cathedral of Florence, David depicts his victory over Goliath using a sling and beheading him with his own sword. In 1873, it was moved to the Accademia Gallery, and a replica was installed in its original location.
First unearthed in 1912 within the ruins of Amarna, this sculpture has been a symbol of feminine beauty ever since. A representation of Queen Nefertiti, it's believed that she ruled as Pharaoh for a time after Akhenaten's death, or as the co-regent of Tutankhamun. Some Egyptologists believe she was actually King Tut's mom!
While Edgar Degas is best known as a painter, he also worked in sculpture. This piece, which he began in 1880, is of a young student of the Paris Opera Ballet dance school, a Belgian girl named Marie van Goethem.
One of the most famous pieces of sculpture of Roman antiquity, Laocoön and His Sons was unearthed in Rome in 1506 and moved to the Vatican, where it resides to this day. The sculpture depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus being attacked by sea serpents.
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China. Discovered in 1974, it's a form of funerary art buried with the emperor. The army features more than 8,000 soldiers, along with 670 horses, and 130 chariots.
Discovered in Austria in 1908, this tiny figurine of a woman is carved from an oolitic limestone and tinted with red ochre. It is now on display at the Natural History Museum in Vienna, Austria.
Sculptures have been a vital part of human history for thousands of years. From ancient civilizations to modern times, they have been used to depict gods, heroes, everyday people, and even objects. From Michelangelo’s David to Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate, these iconic sculptures are defining works of both their eras and their creators.
Whether you are an art enthusiast or simply curious about the world of sculpture, check out this gallery for the most famous sculptures of all time. But keep in mind that photographs alone rarely do sculpture justice, so aim to see these examples in person to appreciate their full aesthetic impact.
Iconic sculptures through history: a chronicle of masterpieces
From pre-history to the 21st century, these are some of the world's most iconic pieces of sculpture
LIFESTYLE Art
Sculptures have been a vital part of human history for thousands of years. From ancient civilizations to modern times, they have been used to depict gods, heroes, everyday people, and even objects. From Michelangelo’s David to Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate, these iconic sculptures are defining works of both their eras and their creators.
Whether you are an art enthusiast or simply curious about the world of sculpture, check out this gallery for the most famous sculptures of all time. But keep in mind that photographs alone rarely do sculpture justice, so aim to see these examples in person to appreciate their full aesthetic impact.