Over the centuries, man has created many wonderful and awe-inspiring things. The art of sculpting is a fine example of what man can achieve.
Sculpture is defined as art created through carving, modelling, casting or welding, such as those created by corten metal sculpture, and here we look at famous works in metal.
Eiffel Tower
The wrought iron latticed tower positioned on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France, is a true icon of the world. Named after the designer, Gustave Eiffel, and standing 1,063 feet tall, the sculpture was constructed to be the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair. Initially drawing criticism from France’s leading visual artists, the tower was built between 1887 and 1889 using more than 18,000 sections of iron. It cost 8m francs.
The tower contains three levels for visitors and remains mostly unchanged since its opening as one of the world’s leading tourist attractions, with over 250 million visitors.
Chicago Picasso
An untitled, monumental metal sculpture by Pablo Picasso sits in the Daley Plaza in Chicago. This impressive work stands 50 feet tall and weighs 147 tons. Commissioned by architects in 1963, Picasso worked for two years on the design before the sculpture was unveiled in 1967.
Constructed from corrosive steel, the artwork was fabricated at a company in Indiana; in the UK, contact a company such as http://www.afsculpture.uk/scuplture-portfolio/corten-metal-sculptures. The work cost over $350,000 (£273,000), which was paid by three charitable foundations.
There has been much speculation on the subject of the work. Picasso never told of his inspiration, leaving the piece untitled and open to public interpretation.
Charging Bull
The Charging Bull is a bronze sculpture located in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York. The sculpture weighs in at 3.5 tons and stands 11 feet tall.
Originally installed unofficially in 1989, the artist, Arturo Di Modica, dropped the sculpture at the New York Stock Exchange in the early hours of 15 December. It was swiftly removed; after much deliberation, it was finally placed in its permanent home in Bowling Park Green. Di Modica funded the sculpture himself at a cost of $350,000, http://chargingbull.com/chargingbull.html, intending it to be a gift to the city.
Its popularity has led to its permanence – a mascot of Wall Street and a symbol of strength and resilience after the stock market crash in 1987.