Beyond the Horticulture Center grounds stands the Schiller Statue. It is a tribute to a great mind. The Schiller Statue honors Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller. He was a renowned German poet, philosopher, historian, and dramatist.
This bronze sculpture was installed in 1886. It was commissioned by the Canstatter Volksfest-Verein. This was a local German-American organization. The Schiller Statue is a companion piece to Goethe. Both statues were crafted by the same artist, Heinrich Manger.
Manger briefly studied at the Dresden Academy in Germany. However, he was largely self-taught. His talent brought Schiller to life in Philadelphia. The Schiller Statue stands as a testament to German-American contributions to American culture.
Schiller lived from 1759 to 1805. His poem “An die Freude” is world-famous. Beethoven set it to music in his Symphony No. 9. This music is also known as “Ode to Joy”.
The Schiller Statue is part of the “Around the Horticulture Center” tour. The statue stands on the south side. It is near the east end of the central promenade. Find it under a tree in the Horticulture Center.
Hardy von Auenmueller is Chairman of The German Society of Pennsylvania. This society furthers the understanding of German contributions to American history. The organization was founded in 1764. It originally assisted German immigrants.
Heinz-Uwe Haus is an internationally renowned theater director. He was born and educated in Germany. Haus teaches at the University of Delaware now. He is the author of “Performing and Performance”.
Liliane Weissberg is a Professor of German and Comparative Literature. She teaches at the University of Pennsylvania. She co-authored “Cultural Memory and the Construction of Identity”.
In the late 19th century, German-Americans built monuments. They were following the monument-building movement of German-speaking Europe. By 1901, monuments to Schiller had been erected in other cities. These included New York, Chicago, and St. Louis.
The Chicago and St. Louis monuments were recastings of Ernst Rau’s 1876 bronze. This bronze is located in Marbach, Germany. Marbach is where Schiller was born in 1759. Another monument to Goethe was erected in Philadelphia. It was created by Heinrich Manger.
The Goethe-Schiller Monument in Weimar, Germany, is a famous monument. It incorporates Ernst Rietschel’s 1857 bronze double statue. It portrays Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. They are revered figures in German literature.
Copies of Rietschel’s statue were commissioned by German-Americans. They can be found in San Francisco, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Syracuse. A smaller copy exists in Anting, China. This town is German-themed.
The original idea for a Goethe-Schiller monument came from Karl Alexander August Johann. He was the Grand Duke of the Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Duchy. Goethe lived most of his adult life in Weimar. Schiller lived there for the last six years of his life.
The figures in the Goethe-Schiller statue are larger than life-size. Goethe is on the left. His left hand rests on Schiller’s shoulder. Goethe holds a laurel wreath. Schiller’s right hand reaches toward the wreath.
The Schiller Statue in Philadelphia stands. It reminds us of Schiller’s words and ideas. He inspires us still. Take a moment to reflect on the legacy of Schiller. He contributed greatly to literature, philosophy, and history. His statue honors German-American heritage.