Schlüter's colossal figures arrive at the Humboldt Forum
Press release from 02/15/2019
The eight surviving colossal figures from the workshop of the famous sculptor and architect Andreas Schlüter have returned to their original location on Schlossplatz. The sandstone figures, all on loan from the National Museums in Berlin - Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, have been transported from the Bode Museum and the Schlossbauhütte to the Humboldt Forum in recent days and installed in the Sculpture Hall. With the opening of the Humboldt Forum at the end of this year, they can once again be admired together as part of the history of the site.
The eight sandstone sculptures by Schlüter originally stood in the courtyard of the Berlin palace named after him and were among the few pieces that were fortunately salvaged before the ruins were blown up in 1950. With the exception of the 19th century copy of the Antinuous, they date from the end of the 17th century. Six of them crowned the columns in front of the large courtyard portal and, at over three metres high, were the worthy decoration of the palace courtyard. They depict a canon of ideal ruler virtues. Meleager stands for heroism and the protection of his subjects, Apollo symbolises the cultivation of art and science and Mercury represents the promotion of trade and commerce. The other two, the female statues of Harmony and Diligence, adorned the inside of Portal 1.
Four of the sculptures - Jupiter, Hercules, Meleager and a female robed statue - have been on display in the domed hall of the Bode Museum in recent years. Before that, they were used, as were the other four sculptures Antinous, Apollo, Mercury and a further female robed statue, in the palace building workshop to prepare the true-to-original copies, which bring the spatial relationship between architecture and sculpture to life in the reconstructed Schlüterhof on the old square.
The precious originals will be presented at the eastern entrance to the Humboldt Forum in the two-storey sculpture hall, where they have been installed in recent days. Two further figures, the so-called balustrade figures Spring and Summer, will follow. They probably stood on the Lustgarten side on the roof of the palace.
In the Sculpture Hall, the most important remains of the original sculptures from the Berlin Palace are brought together close to their original location. The sculpture hall is part of the presentation of the history of the site, in which visitors to the Humboldt Forum will be able to explore the multifaceted 700-year history of Berlin's Schlossplatz from the end of 2019.
Press contacts
Bernhard Wolter, Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss
Head of Communications Building & Sponsoring
+49 151 14001199
bernhard.wolter(at)humboldtforum(dot)com
www.humboldtforum.com
Stefan Müchler, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz
Press and Public Relations Humboldt Forum
+49 151 52751584
s.muechler(at)hv.spk-berlin(dot)de