“Why does that bound-up man sit there?” someone once asked. Here before the Museum am Dom in Würzburg sits the Big Seated sculpture. Some call it the Orpheus Sculpture. It is an iron statue. It gazes into the sky. The Orpheus Sculpture looks more like a mummy than a man.
This thought-provoking artwork has a unique story. Years ago, city planners added stairs to improve the square’s looks. They soon realized the stairs posed a safety hazard. They ordered the museum to add a railing. The museum didn’t want to ruin the aesthetics. Instead, they commissioned German artist Maria Lehnen to create a statue. The Orpheus Sculpture was born. It was placed at the top of the stairs.
It has been said the bound-up man represents a way of following the letter of the law but not its spirit. The Orpheus Sculpture invites reflection. It prompts us to consider the balance between rules and meaning.
Now, let’s talk about another sculptor, Max von Widnmann. He was a German sculptor and professor. He taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. King Ludwig I of Bavaria commissioned many of his works. Widnmann was born in Eichstätt. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. He later studied in Rome with Bertel Thorvaldsen.
Widnmann became an independent artist in Munich. King Ludwig I commissioned portrait busts for the Walhalla memorial. Ferdinand von Miller cast many of his sculptures in bronze. In 1849, Widnmann became a professor. He succeeded Schwanthaler at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria ennobled him in 1887. Widnmann’s statues projected dignity. This appealed to his contemporaries. He received many commissions. Some of his work was destroyed during the bombing of Munich in World War II.
Widnmann created monuments to bishops in Würzburg. He crafted a bronze statue of Prince Bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn. Widnmann also made statues of Orlando di Lasso. You can find them on the Promenadeplatz in Munich. He also sculpted a statue of Christian Daniel Rauch in the Glyptothek.
Returning to our present location. The Orpheus Sculpture stands as a modern contrast. It is a different style. It is a different message. It is a modern piece. It is a reminder that art evolves. It reflects society’s changing concerns. The Big Seated may not be Widnmann. It shares the power to provoke thought.
Take a moment to examine the Orpheus Sculpture closely. Consider its message. Think about the artist’s intent. The Orpheus Sculpture is more than just a statue. It’s a statement. It challenges us to see beyond the surface.