Famous Statues and Sculptures Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pieta

Created by Michelangelo Buonarroti between 1498 and 1499, the famous "Pieta" is held in St Peter's Basillica at the Vatican City. Depicting the body of Jesus resting across the lap of his mother Mary, following his crucifixion, this is a work of profound sorrow and loss. It isn't advisable to look at this famous work for too long because of the overwhelming emotions it evokes in one. One is almost consumed by the grief of the mother. Her right arm holds the murdered body of her son close to her in a vain attempt to comfort him, while the left is open to the heavens almost as questioning that death - or, indeed, as an offering.

Criticisms of this great work are that the body of Mary is overly proportioned to that of Jesus. That it certainly is, but this was mainly a matter of physics, in order for her weight to hold the body of the perfectly sculptured Jesus. Michelangelo attempted to disguise this disproportion with the folds in the drapery by which she is adorned. The other criticism is that her face is too young for the age she would have been at the time, but that is nit-picking at its worst. A close inspection of that face reveals lines on her forehead, eyelids swollen from the shedding of tears, and though certainly the lower part of her face is youthful looking, the jawline depicts a developing maturity. As for the body of the crucified Jesus himself, that is absolute perfection, even down to the bruising and marks from the torture he endured.

Answer: The Thinker

"The Thinker" is a famous work of a man deep in thought while he is sitting on a rock. Approximately six feet tall, 28 castings were made of this sculpture after its completion, many of which during the lifetime of the French sculptor, Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) himself. Since then, of course, far more copies in one form or another have been made.

Rodin took his inspiration for "The Thinker" from "The Divine Comedy" by Dante (1265-1321) and originally the pondering figure was represented as sitting in front of the doorway to hell. A cheerful thought. What is he thinking, one wonders? On the sins of mankind? His own? Or, as Rodin wanted the figure to represent intellect and poetry combined, perhaps he is thinking about the rhythmic swing of a pendulum. Yet, there is no softness in this work. Perfectly proportioned, it is more of a representation of man at the peak of muscular and rather harsh bodily perfection than the gentler lines of poetry. Perhaps even, considering he was meant to be placed in front of that fiery doorway, he represents the fall of the perfect man, Adam, from grace.

Answer: Discobolus

Sculptured by Myron of Eleuterae, the "Discobolus" is a work that captures the beautiful lines of an athlete in the act of throwing a discus, so lifelike that it's breathtaking. One almost expects the swing to be completed at any moment. Although the original has been lost, enough copies were made of this statue that allow the work to still live today. These copies were actually done in marble because, at the time, it was a cheaper material than the bronze of later copied sculptures by the great artists.

Remaining undiscovered until 1781, the first copy of the "Discobolus" - which is commonly referred to as "The Discus Thrower" - was found on a Roman property belonging to the Massimo family on one of Rome's famous seven hills. By 1937 its fame had grown to such an extent that even Adolf Hitler sought to buy it. In spite of loud protests by the Italy's art community, he finally succeeded in doing so in 1938 for the sum of five million lire. Shipped to Munich, Hitler had it displayed in Munich's Glyptothek Museum there. Returned to Italy after the Second World War, this beautiful work is now at Rome's National Museum.

Answer: Winged Victory

The full name of this beautiful piece is "Winged Victory at Samothrace". Because she is the subject of the sculpture, it is also known as "Nike of Samothrace". Created in the 2nd century BC, this is considered of the greatest examples of Hellenistic sculptures in the world today - and rightly so. It is Victory in flight, her draperies blown back against her form, a proud and beautiful work of art in motion.

"Winged Victory", whose sculptor is unknown, represents a goddess alighting on the prow of a ship following a triumphant sea battle. Though missing her arms and head, that sense of pride is still felt by the viewer. One imagines that her arms were flung back joyously wide and half perpendicular to her wings, with her head tilted back. It is believed, however, that her right hand was cupped around her lips as if she was giving an exultant cry. I can't imagine that from the shape and position of her chest. It rather has the appearance of a victorious runner crossing a finishing line. What fascinates me the most, apart from the sheer joy this statue exudes, are those exquisitely flowing draperies. "Winged Victory" is just beautiful.

Answer: Diana

Known as "Diana of Versailles" this work can be found in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Depicting the Greek goddess Diana, accompanied by a deer, this is a authentic copy only. The original, sculptured by Leochares of Athens, has been lost to the world. Also known as "Artemis of the Chase" and "Artemis with the Hind", this work gives us Diana reaching behind her with her right hand into her quiver of arrows.

It is believed that her left hand was holding a small bow, but that is now missing. Accompanying the huntress is a rather under-sized male deer. I rather dislike this work, mainly because the main part of the sculpture's body and her face are way too masculine for a goddess who was also known for her delicacy and beauty.

In fact, I think I detest it, but that's the beauty of any work of art - how it works on the emotions of its viewer.

Answer: Kiss

Considered a neoclassical masterpiece, "Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss" by Antonio Canova, in a word - exquisite. Housed in the Louvre in Paris, it tells the legend of the lifeless Psyche being awakened by Cupid after she has been sent into the sleep of the dead by Prosperina.

This 1787 work is one of pure tenderness, surrender and love. See how Psyche's perfectly carved arms - breathtakingly lovely - reach up towards Cupid as he gazes down at her, note how his fingers cup her face and breast so gently, the soft space between her legs, and though, you cannot see it from this angle in this photo, the perfectly moulded curve of her buttocks. My goodness, but she is a work of glory. Every angle is perfect in this sculpture. If ever wealthy enough to own even a piece of this truly exceptional piece, it would be those perfectly curved arms of psyche's reaching up towards love.

Answer: David

Donatello's first sculpture of David is boring. It's very stylised, the face is that of a child on the body of a man, and the neck looks like it's been stretched. His "Bronze David" (as it commonly known) on the other hand, is a work of art - but only to a degree. Created in the 1440s, it features a nude David, except for hat and boots, after his battle with Goliath. Housed in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, the very youthful David comes complete with ringlets of all things, and has the sword that he used to behead the giant clasped in his right hand. Twined around his hat are laurel leaves to symbolise victory. To a casual observer though, those leaves could also symbolise the crown of thorns to indicate that David's power comes through God.

Considered the Renaissance's first "unsupported standing work of bronze", this work was created for the Medici family to be placed in the courtyard of their palace. Criticisms levelled against it over time, and justifiably so, are that the left leg has a foot with an overly large big toe (it looks a bit like a claw in fact) and that the body of David is way too feminine. It certainly is just that. The waistline, stomach, buttocks and arms are very feminine looking indeed, and the left hand is resting provocatively on the hip in a typical female pose. Donatello has even given the young David budding female breasts of all things, but the lower part of the face and the legs and sexual organ are male. All in all, I don't particularly like this sculpture. It's just too ambiguous in nature for my taste. I don't know whether I'm looking at a David with a female's body - or a Venus with a penis.

Answer: Mercury

"Flying Mercury" by Giovanni Bologna (known as Giambologna) is a depiction of the Roman god of messages, travellers, trickery, thieves, eloquence, luck, commerce and guide of the dead. He is usually displayed with a caduceus in his hand but not in this particular sculpture.

Instead we have the perfectly proportioned body of a young male, complete with winged sandals and helmet, stretching his right arm to the sky as if taking off in flight or reaching up to receive another message from the gods. The only criticism that could be said of this lovely work is that that arm is slightly out of proportion to the rest of his athletic young body. That aside, "Flying Mercury" is just about perfect.

Answer: The Dying Gaul

Such a sorrowful work, "The Dying Gaul" depicts a gallant solider who has been mortally wounded in battle. His head is bowed in defeat and sorrow as he prepares to die. It is believed this perfectly sculptured piece was created some time between 230-220 BC by one Epigonus, the court sculptor of Attalus I of Pergamon to mark his victory over the Gauls and other peoples in Anatolia. Originally, and mistakenly, known as "The Dying (or Wounded) Gladiator", it wasn't until midway through the 19th century that it was realised it was no Roman gladiator sculptured to such perfection but a Gaul instead. He was identified by the band around his neck, which, unfortunately, you cannot see in this photograph.

This is one of most true to life sculptures ever created. Note the muscle structure of the torso which features a deep wound on the right side, the perfect positioning of the body as it leans, defeated, on the right arm, and the magnificent balance of the left leg. All that alone would alone be enough to make this such an outstanding work, but added to its physical perfection is the emotional impact of that profound sorrow of defeat. This very moving work, to my amusement, also has a hair style some 300 years old. The original longer hair was broken off over time, and replaced some time in the 17th century by the spikier locks of today. These, along with its moustache, are in turn so reminiscent of the 1970s style worn by thousands of young and not so young men everywhere during that era, that it only needs a pair of flared trousers and open necked shirt to complete the picture. In truth, this statue reminds me of my husband - on our honeymoon. He looked exhausted too.

Answer: Manneken Pis

"Manneken Pis", an adorable little bronze statue of a small boy urinating into a fountain, was created by Hieronymus Dueuesnoy the Elder, circa 1619. Isn't he adorable, the little scamp? One can just see a small chubby lad, even 400 years later, doing the exact same thing. The bronze Manneken measures about 24 inches in height and is located in the heart of Brussels in Belgium. He has been stolen many times over the years, and had to be replaced just as many times by authentic copies. The original, though, is kept at the Grand Palace in Brussels where, one imagines, it is pretty heavily guarded.

The legend behind the creation of the Manneken is related to a battle that took place between the warring factions of Leuven and Grimbergen in the 1100s. The two-year-old Duke of Leuven, who had succeeded to the title when he was just an infant, was placed in a basket in a tree where his troops could all see him as they fought. During the course of that battle, the child was said to urinate all over the troops of Grimbergen - and this caused them to lose the fight. Oh fiddlesticks. Another legend, 300 years later, has a brave little boy urinating on the lit fuse of a bomb to save the city of Brussels being blown up by enemies. Several other legends associated with this lovely little statue all end up the same way. Today our little Manneken is solemnly dressed in different costumes several times a week by an official committee set up for this purpose, and, at different times during the year, the hose feeding water through his nether regions is hooked up to kegs of beer instead, and distributed freely to all who pass by. Recycling with a vengeance.