Iconic sculptures through history: a chronicle of masterpieces

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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.

Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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! 

Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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.

Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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.

Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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.

Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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.

The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

One of Rodin's most significant works, the marble sculpture portrays Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta from Dante's 'Divine Comedy.' 

The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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.

The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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.

L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

Venus of Willendorf, 28,000–25,000 BCE, Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Discobolus by Myron, 460-450 BCE, Laocoön and His Sons, 2nd century BCE, Venus de Milo, 2nd century BCE, Winged Victory of Samothrace, 2nd century BCE, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 175 CE, Pietà by Michelangelo, 1498–1499, Moses by Michelangelo, 1513-1515, Apollo and Daphne by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622-1625, Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Antonio Canova, 1804–1806, The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, 1882, The Burghers of Calais by Auguste Rodin, 1884–1889, Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, 1886, The Thinker by Auguste Rodin, 1904, Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni, 1913, The Little Mermaid by Edvard Eriksen, 1913, L’Air by Aristide Maillol, 1938, Spider by Louise Bourgeois, 1996

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. 

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