Seeing art online or in books about sculptures, statues, painters and artists is one thing, it is another to see the works of the best masterpieces in the world, in person.
Whether your interest is in Greek and Roman sculpture or modern sculptures of today, sculpture is a visual art that should be seen in the flesh.
Sculptors work in three dimensions and not only two dimensions.
In fact, the principles of sculpture design have nothing to do with a flat image. Since the days of Greek and Roman sculpture to modern sculptures of today, viewers appreciate the reality of this visual art form.
From the many different perspectives, sizes and materials, sculptures are best seen in person.
So the question is where can you see the most famous art sculptures in the world?
It is a great question, but a frustrating one, because the answer is all over the world.
To narrow it down it helps to know what you want to see. Are you a fan of Greek and Roman sculpture or do you simply want to see a selection of famous art sculptures from throughout the ages?
For instance, if you are interested in prehistoric sculpture you would go somewhere different than the best place to view Baroque statues.
In the same way, if you only wanted to view modern sculptures whether those are kinetic, snow, glass, abstract or assemblage works, you would not go to a venue that focuses on Paleolithic.
Make no mistake, there are sculptural style movements to suit everyone.
Here is a list of some of the best locations in the world for appreciating famous art sculptures and statues.
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Rome the Place for Greek and Roman Sculpture
Rome is a special place. As the location of many of the world’s most beautiful churches, museums and cathedrals, the city itself is like one great art gallery or museum. By just walking down the street, you could see some of the most beautiful statues you have seen in your life.
The reason of course is that Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and the head of the Catholic Church. It also became one of the richest cities on planet, with the bonus that, there is much to see.
It is by the best location in the world to see Greek and Roman sculpture. In Rome, you could see the works of da Vinci, Bernini and other famous art sculptures.
The Vatican Museum is Filled with Famous Art Sculptures
Some of the most incredible carvings, statues and reliefs are found in the Vatican. In addition, it also boasts some of the world’s most famous modern sculptures, paintings and the work of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel too.
National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico
Apart from the work that is housed in the western world, there is more to both ancient and modern sculptures than what is found in Europe’s artistic pockets.
Hellenistic and Romanesque work tends to get most of the attention when it comes to conversations on the history of art, but there is a lot going on in the rest of the world too. In Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology, it is quite evident how limited our view can be.
The NMA is a brilliant showcase of sculpture, art and artefacts. Much of the work depicts animals, deities and other things from pre-Columbian times in Mexico.
The British Museum
Due to the British Empire’s controversial history, London is home to many of the most treasured historical artefacts from around the world. It is also one of the biggest museums on the planet, boasting over eight million objects.
From colossal sculptures of granite gleaned from Ancient Egypt to one of the most historic musical instruments to the Parthenon Marbles and Spartan bronze sculpture, it has an amazing variety of figurative and contemporary art.
For the art world, the British Museum is a very important place and there are very few places in the world where you would be able to find such a variety in one place.
If you are looking for the work of history’s greatest sculptors, it is worth a visit.
The Louvre
One place that can truly compete with the British Museum is the Louvre in Paris which is known for its valuable and diverse collection of historical art pieces.
While all of the work after 1850 is located in the Musée d’Orsay (also worth a visit), the Louvre is residence to all kinds of exquisite art from antiquity to the 18th century.
You will find famous works from Mesopotamia and Ancient Greece as well as pieces by Antonio Canova and Michelangelo. It is an absolute treasure trove for anyone intrigued by art sculpture history.
For many, visiting the Louvre is a privilege and a bucket list item to be truly appreciated.
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Musée Rodin, Paris
The history of both modern and contemporary art sculpture can be traced back to one incredible man, Auguste Rodin, who changed the general perception of sculpture in the late 19th century.
The Musée Rodin, which honours the founder of modern sculpture, is another sculpture museum in Paris that houses the largest collection of Rodin’s work, including great pieces like The Gates of Hell, The Thinker and The Kiss.
It is also host to many of his drawings which is helpful in following his principles of design, reconstruction and thought.
Florence, Italy
As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence or Firenze is a city that just brims with cool stuff.
After Rome, Firenze is another location that may as well be considered a museum in its own right.
Once you are there, head towards the Piazza della Signora to find Michelangelo’s David and Cellini’s famous Perseus.
Be sure to visit the Galleria dell’Accademia as well as the Uffizi Museum for the best that Renaissance art has to offer.
If you are finding this article interesting, then be sure to read the basics of sculpture too.
Kröller-Müller Museum, Netherlands
Holland’s Kröller-Müller Museum is one of the Netherlands’ treasures. It boasts a sprawling landscape of art sculptures through winding paths and forests that is frequented by cycling tourists. In itself, even without the sculptures, it is a beautiful place to be.
Set up in the thirties as the home for the founder’s huge collection of Van Gogh paintings, today it boasts the second-largest collection of the Dutch artist’s work in the world.
You’ll also find sculpture art by Moore, Rodin, Dubuffet and more.
National Archaeological Museum, Greece
The words Ancient Greece are synonymous with cultural and artistic innovation. It is therefore no surprise that Athens is home to some of the world’s most fascinating statues, artefacts, masks, sculptures and jewellery.
The National Archaeological Museum holds prehistoric and late antiquity work as well as plenty of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. Be sure not to miss the Mask of Agamemnon which is particularly striking
New York, United States of America
New York is a city of incredible museums.
Places to visit include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum (like a sculpture in itself) and the Museum of Modern Art. Across the three, you will find work by Henry Moore, Bernini, Rodi and Alberto Giacometti.
Don’t forget that New York is also home to one of the most recognisable statues and landmarks in the world - the Statue of Liberty.
Xi’an, China
If you are impressed by scale, take a trip to Xi’an, China, which is home to the biggest collection of sculpture in the world.
Here, you will find the greatest collection of terracotta sculpture work in the world. You may have heard of it: The Terracotta Warriors.
Made to protect an ancient emperor in afterlife, the Qin Shi Huang had an amazing retinue of over 8000 terracotta warriors after his death.
It is certainly an impressive sight.
Indian Museum, Kolkata
The biggest and oldest museum in India is called Kolkata’s Indian Museum. It covers just about everything from zoology and botany to art and archaeology.
It also boasts an amazing collection of Hindu and Buddhist deity sculptures from all across India.
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