A great bronze statue of King Richard I, created by Carlo Marochetti, has stood in the middle of Parliament Square in London, England, since 1860. Richard (1157-1199) earned the title Lion Heart because of his courage in the Crusades. The statue is an all-black representation of Richard riding his horse proudly, dressed in full uniform. Richard's right arm extends his sword to the sky; his horse walks with a certain pomp, its head bowed regally. The statue was recently unveiled after restoration efforts.
The Thinker, by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, is often depicted to represent philosophical thought. The piece was originally part of a series inspired by Dante's "Divine Comedy." Originally titled The Poet, it represented Dante at the gates of Hell. The statue is kept in the Musée Rodin in Paris. The Thinker is a bronze and marble statue, but is mostly bronze. Most representations of this sculpture are cast entirely in bronze or in plaster.
In Bowling Green Park in New York City, a 7,000-pound bronze statue of a raging bull crouches near the Wall Street district. The Charging Bull is the symbol of aggressive financial optimism and prosperity, and was created by Arturo Di Modica. This 11-foot-tall monster is a year-round tourist attraction, but also one of the most iconic symbols of the New York Stock Exchange.
In the middle of a plaza in Krakow, Poland, a large bust lies on its side, as if it has been decapitated. The Eros Bendato (Eros Bound) bronze was created by 20th century Polish artist Igor Mitoraj. The subject has no eyes, and his face is bound with straps. This is one of several works by the artist that are on display throughout Poland. His works serve as an excellent representation of the Polish people's plight resulting from almost a century of war and occupation.