Lady Bavaria

This statue of Bavaria in Munchen is the earliest bronze statue of the modern era, commissioned by King Ludwig I in 1837 to crown the Bavarian hall of fame. It was also designed to showcase the influence and culture of the then independent kingdom.

The statue took 13 years to complete, with the project outliving the architect and the reign of the king. This was due in large part to techniques not used since ancient times. The king was even recorded saying, “Only Nero and I have produced such giant statues – no-one has done it since Nero’s time," which was not an exaggeration. 

The first parts of the statue were erected in 1844, leading to much fanfare and amazement among the people who had never seen such a thing before. Six years later, the statue was completed and has stood watching over the Teresienwiseever since. 

A little-known fact is that it is possible to enter the statue and walk up the spiral staircase to the top. It is not as spectacular as many of the statues that came after, but it does offer a unique experience.

After Lady Bavaria was completed, the tools and techniques to create these kinds of statues spread around the world, and much larger and grander statues were crafted. So in a way, the Statue of Liberty is a descendent of Lady Bavaria.