Public Art Around the World - Quadriga of Victory

Quadriga of Victory

Public Art : Quadriga of Victory

Sculptor : © Johann Gottfried Schadow

Date : 1793

Description : A bronze statue of the Goddess of Victory on a chariot drawn by four horses. In her hand she holds a staff with an eagle perched on the Iron Cross.

Location : The Brandenburg Gate is located between the Pariser Platz and the Platz des 18 on the former border between East & West Germany, Berlin.

History of the Quadriga of Victory : In 1793 Johann Gottifried Schadow created the Quadriga for the Brandenburg Gate. A quadriga is a four-horse chariot, which was onced raced in the Olympic Games and then was later adopted in ancient Roman chariot racing. It was a great symbol of triumph, victory and fame. The quadrigais usually depicted with a female driving it. In 1806, during French Occupation (and following the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt), the Quadriga of Victory was stolen. Napolean had the sculpture dismantled and taken back to Paris, France. It was later returned to Berlin by Field Marshal Gebhard von Blucher in 1814. On its return to Berlin the goddess's olive wreath was replaced by a staff bearing the Prussian eagle perched on the iron cross.
The gate was heavily damaged during World War II and was later restored in 1957-58. The Quadriga was also damaged and was recast from the original molds.

History of the Brandenburg Gate : The Brandenburg Gate is a Triumphal Arch and stands on the former border between East & West Germany in the city of Berlin. The Neo-classical gate was designed by Carl Gatthard Langhans and was erected from 1788-1793 as a "Gate of Peace". The gate was inspired by the Propylaea, the entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. The structure is crowned by the "Quadriga of Victory", a statue of a chariot drawn by four horses. The Doric gateway once served as a customs port.
From 1961 to 1989 the gate was blocked as the construction of the Berlin Wall divided East and West Berlin .The gate was reopened in 1989 with the reunification of East & West Berlin. In the year 2000, the Brandenburg Gate was privately refurbished at a cost of $3 million.

Brandenburg Gate, Quadriga of Victory, Berlin, Germany, 1945

Brandenburg Gate, Quadriga of Victory, Berlin, Germany, 2006

Brandenburg Gate 1945 Brandenburg Gate 2006

Trivia :

It is believed that all the modern quadrigas are based on the Triumphal Quadriga (of Greek or Roman origins), the only surviving ancient quadriga sculpture. It was originally erected in the Hippodrome of Constantinople but now resides in St Mark's Basilica in Venice.

So Where Are All The Quadrigas ?

Triumphal Quadriga, St Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy (Oldest surviving quadriga)
Panther Quadriga, on the Semperoper, Dresden, Germany
Wellington Arch Quadriga, atop the Wellington Arch in London, England
Carrousel Quadriga, atop the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Paris, France
Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, Rome, Italy
Progress of the State at the Minnesota State Capitol, United States of America (totally gold)
Grand Army Plaza , on top of an arch, Brooklyn, United States of America

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