Ever felt the raw power of nature frozen in bronze? Right here stands the Röhrender Hirsch Sculpture. It is a Düsseldorfer icon with a compelling story.
The year was 1907. The Deutsch-Nationale Kunstausstellung in Düsseldorf was closing its doors. A local improvement association had an idea. They wanted to purchase Josef Pallenberg’s “Röhrender Hirsch”. The sculpture had just won a golden state medal. Pallenberg was a Düsseldorf animal sculptor.
Originally titled “Rominter Brunfthirsch” the lifelike figure was impressive. It was cast in the Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik. The sculpture used a hollow galvanobronze technique. Its design came from studies in the Romintener Heide in East Prussia.
After much debate, the Röhrender Hirsch found its first home in 1908. It was placed behind the Hofgärtnerhaus. Today, that building is the Theatermuseum. The installation cost 8,000 Mark. The bronze figure weighed about 400 kg. It stood proudly on a Muschelkalk base.
Tragedy struck on August 5, 1942. The sculpture was removed as part of the “Metallspende des deutschen Volkes”. This was a donation of metal by the German people for the war effort. Luckily, Fred Kocks, an art hall owner, intervened. He arranged for the Röhrender Hirsch to be moved to the zoo. This saved it from being melted down during World War II.
The Röhrender Hirsch was reinstalled in 1945. But the bronze casting was badly damaged by 1956. A complete reconstruction was needed. In 1957, sculptor Hermann Isenmann created a new casting. He used real bronze in Herbert Schmäke’s art foundry. This new version was placed in its current location. It is west of Kaiserstraße in the Hofgarten.
What happened to the original? It was moved to the municipal building yard. In 1996, Rolf Purpar wrote in “Kunststadt Düsseldorf”. He said that the original, restored by the Schmäke art foundry, was in the Berlin Zoo since 1989.
So, this Röhrender Hirsch is not the original. It is a testament to the city’s dedication to art. It also highlights the importance of preserving cultural treasures. The sculpture captures a moment of nature’s intensity. It is a symbol of Düsseldorf’s artistic spirit. Take a moment to appreciate its history. It is a story of art, war, and resilience.