Didn’t you know that the Brado da Liberdade Statue isn’t just a statue? It is a symbol. A symbol of hope and resilience high above Rio. It stands tall at the peak of Corcovado Mountain.
Let’s dive into the story behind this iconic monument. The Brado da Liberdade Statue is officially named Christ the Redeemer. Imagine Rio de Janeiro in the mid-1850s. A Vincentian priest suggested a Christian monument here. He wanted to honor Princess Isabel. But the project was dismissed when Brazil became a republic. The separation of church and state halted it.
Then, in 1920, the Catholic Circle of Rio proposed a landmark statue again. They worried about the rise of “Godlessness”. They organized Semana do Monumento, Monument Week, to raise funds. Most donations came from Brazilian Catholics. They considered different designs. A cross, Jesus with a globe, and a pedestal representing the world were all options. Finally, Christ the Redeemer with open arms was chosen. It symbolized peace.
Local engineer Heitor da Silva Costa and artist Carlos Oswald designed it. French sculptor Paul Landowski created the statue. He commissioned Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida for the face. Engineers felt reinforced concrete was better than steel. Albert Caquot designed the concrete structure. Concrete came all the way from Limhamn, Sweden. The outer layer is soapstone. It was chosen for its durability and ease of use.
Construction took nine years from 1922 to 1931. It cost US$250,000. That’s equivalent to $4.3 million today. The monument opened on October 12, 1931. During the opening ceremony, the statue was to be lit remotely. Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi would do it from Rome. Bad weather forced them to activate the lights on-site.
In 2006, on the 75th anniversary, Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid consecrated a chapel. It was named after Brazil’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Apparition. It’s under the statue. Catholics can hold baptisms and weddings there.
Lightning struck the Brado da Liberdade Statue in 2008. It damaged fingers, head, and eyebrows. The government restored it, replacing soapstone and repairing lightning rods. Lightning struck again in 2014, dislodging a finger.
A major restoration began in 2010. They cleaned, replaced mortar and soapstone, and waterproofed the monument. Vandals sprayed paint on the arm. The mayor called it “a crime against the nation”. The culprits apologized and turned themselves in.
The Brado da Liberdade Statue stands 30 meters tall. Including its pedestal, it is 38 meters high. Its arms stretch 28 meters wide. It weighs 635 metric tons. This statue is the largest Art Deco sculpture in the world. In 2007, it was voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Passageways inside allow workers to maintain it.
The original design showed Christ holding a cross and a globe. It changed to the open-armed figure we know. The soapstone tiles covering the statue were applied by hand. Some women even wrote messages on the back. The original light-colored soapstone quarry is now dry. Replacement stones are slightly darker.
The Brado da Liberdade Statue is struck by lightning several times a year. This requires constant maintenance. It stands as a beacon. A symbol of Rio. And a testament to faith and art.