Rheinschiffer um 1850 Sculpture

Gazing at the Rheinschiffer um 1850, one can almost hear the lapping Rhine waters. This weathered Muschelkalk sculpture, standing proudly on the Robert-Lehr-Ufer in Düsseldorf, captures the spirit of a bygone era. The Rheinschiffer um 1850, meaning “Rhine sailor around 1850”, pays homage to the hardworking men who navigated the river’s currents. Created by Emil Jungblut, likely in the 1930s, the sculpture’s journey to its current location is as fascinating as the river itself. It first graced the small inner garden of the restaurant “Zum Schiffchen” on Hafenstraße. Then, after 1959, it resided in the park of the Demmer family’s villa in Hösel. Finally, in 1970, the Demmer family, owners of the very same “Zum Schiffchen” brewery, donated the Rheinschiffer um 1850 to the city. It now stands north of the Rheinterrasse, near where three putti groups by sculptor Hoselmann once stood before their destruction during World War II. The Rheinschiffer um 1850, a sturdy figure carved from Muschelkalk and mounted on a limestone base, stands approximately two meters tall. It’s more than just a statue; it’s a tangible link to Düsseldorf’s rich maritime history. It serves as a reminder of the Rhine’s vital role in the city’s development and the men who braved its waters. The Rheinschiffer um 1850, forever gazing out at the Rhine, invites us to reflect on the enduring connection between Düsseldorf and its lifeblood, the river.