Can You Name More Than 13 of These Famous Sculptures?

By: Teresa McGlothlin
Image: dowell / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

From recent sculptures to those that date back to 25,000 BC, sculpture has long been one way that artists represent their respective eras. If you can name more than 13 of these famous sculptures, it will be safe to say that you know your art! We have scoured the  world from Hong Kong to ancient Rome to challenge your expertise. 

Some of the sculptures may be easy to recognize, but others might make you take a moment and really dig deep. Even if art isn't exactly your area of expertise, this quiz will be  a journey through some amazing works that may lead you to develop a newfound appreciation for the art of sculpting. Whether you are a fan of more traditional sculptures or you love the work of contemporary  sculptors, your eyes will get a real treat throughout the quiz. 

With artists like Michelangelo and Anish Kapoor, sculptural creations could never be called boring. Every sculpture has a history and a meaning, and we will impart fascinating knowledge about each piece. Do you think you can get more than 13 right? Scroll down to get this quiz started, and we'll see how much you know about some of the world's most memorable works of art! 


The Kiss is a Rodin masterpiece that was modeled after Paolo and Francesca from Dante's "Divine Comedy." Created in 1882, the statue depicts the lovers in an embrace after they were banished to Hell. The larger version of the marble statue took Rodin over ten years to deliver.

In 1820, the Venus de Milo by sculpture Alexandros was found in pieces along the Aegean island of Melos. After being given to Louis XVII, Venus de Milo found a permanent home at the Louvre where it was reassembled. The arms of the statue have never been found.

Made from Oolitic limestone, the Venus of Willendorf dates all the way back to some time between 20,000 and 25,000 BCE. Found in Austria, the Venus of Willendorf would have been carried by nomadic cultures and viewed as a symbol of fertility.

Believed to have been crafted by the sculptor Thutmose, the Bust of Nefertiti was created around 1345 BC. As the wife of the Pharaoh Akhenaten and later possibly a widowed ruler herself, Nefertiti was one of the most powerful women in ancient Egypt. Here, she is immortalized in limestone, stucco, and paint.

The Terracotta Army was created around 210 BC as a memorial to the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Discovered by a group of peasants digging for water in 1974, the Terracotta Army's unearthing shocked the world and the Shaanxi province where the army is located.

Carved from white marble, Laocoon and His Sons depicts the death of the Poseidon priest and his sons when trying to destroy the Trojan Horse. Although the exact date of creation is unknown, it was excavated in Rome during the year 1506. It can be seen on display at The Vatican Museums.

The famous sculptor Bernini is the artist responsible for creating Apollo and Daphne. The story behind the piece dates all the way back to Greek mythology's "Ovid Metamorphosis," but it was created sometime between 1622 and 1625.

At the young age of 26, famous artist Michelangelo carved the statue of David from a slab of marble. Commissioned by the Opera del Duomo for the Cathedral of Florence, David was rejected by board members for being too perfect. It was instead placed in Florence at the Piazza Della Signora.

During the 16th century, Teresa of Avila was canonized by the Catholic church for her prolific visions. Inspired by her writings, Gian Lorenzo Bernini created the statue that now resides in Cornaro Chapel in Rome.

The artist behind the bronze Perseus with the Head of Medusa is Benvenuto Cellini. Originally a goldsmith, the statue challenged Cellini, nonetheless, the statue was finished in 1554. It stands in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence and has not been moved since its original placement.

The first version of Picasso's Guitar was made out of cardboard in 1912. By 1914, Picasso had decided to remake it out of sheet metal. Breaking away from the traditional carved or molded versions of sculpture, Picasso shocked viewers with his abstract, rebellious approach using assemblage.

When sculptor Constantin Brancusi originally tried to create Mademoiselle Pogany, he broke several clay molds in front of the model. It was only after she returned to Hungary that Brancusi completed the sculpture from memory. In 1913, it was a highly debated piece of sculpture!

During the course of his career, Andy Warhol pushed the boundaries of the art world. With his graphic pieces, he brought pop culture into the high brow arena. Here, you can see Brillo Box (Soap Pads) that Warhol created in 1964.

Affectionately dubbed "The Bean," Cloud Gate is made from a steel frame and 168 pieces of custom cut stainless-steel plates. The piece, created by artist Anish Kapoor, sits in Chicago's Millennium Park where it has become a part of the city's experience.

The Great Sphinx of Giza is carved from a single piece of limestone and stands 66 feet tall. Scholars are still debating the exact date The Sphinx was built. Some believe it was built for King Khafre, but others believe his brother, King Khufu, commissioned the piece after Khafre's death.

Lady Justice has roots in Roman mythology and shows the immortalized image of the Goddess Lustita. Lustita was the Goddess of Justice, and her blindfold represents impartiality. Her scales represent the ability to weigh both sides of an issue.

Christ the Redeemer looms over Rio de Janeiro, and it's sometimes considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Created by artist Cristo Redentor, the outstretched arms measure 92 feet across. The sculpture is made from a mosaic of triangular soapstones.

At 112 feet tall, the Tian Tan Buddha is tucked away in a mountainous region near Hong Kong. To reach the sculpture, visitors must climb 268 stairs. It took sculptors 12 years to complete, and it is maintained by the Po Lin Monastery.

The Lincoln Memorial Statue was initially set to be only 10 feet tall; however, the artist behind the work, Daniel Chester French, decided to enlarge it to the 28 feet tall that it stands now. Carved with assistance from a large slab of marble, the sculpture is one of the world's most visited.

Measuring 11 feet across and hand forged from bronze, Transcendence is often called the Salmon Sculpture by locals in Portland, Oregon. The incredibly detailed fish appears to be swimming through a brick wall, and it hovers over the entrance to a former seafood restaurant.

The Freedom of Howick was dedicated to Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela by the artist Marco Cianfanelli in 2012. An interactive sculpture that allows visitors to walk inside the bars that make up the sculpture, The Freedom of Howick sits at the spot where Mandela was first arrested.

Each of the 50 bronze cattle in Cattle Drive measures a whopping six feet tall. Sitting in a large public park maintained by the Dallas Convention Center called Pioneer Park, artist Robert Summers has created an unforgettable reminder of the state's cattle driving past.

In 1999, Louise Bourgeois' Maman was unveiled at the Tate Modern. A sculpture so large it can only be erected outdoors in an industrial space, Merman's spindly legs are balanced by a sack full of spider eggs. Maman has received a permanent home outside of the museum.

Originally carved in marble, Discobolus has been reproduced countless times since its creation between 450 and 460 BC. A popular sport in ancient Greece, Discobolus flawlessly displays the athleticism of the Olympic sport.

Winged Victory (Nike) of Samothrace has been housed at the Louvre in Paris since 1884. Carved from marble in 2nd century BC, Winged Victory stands 8 feet tall. Although many have attempted to recreate the statue's broken parts, it has only ever been restored in theory.

Housed at the Capitoline Museum in Rome, the Capitoline Wolf is only slightly smaller than a life-sized wolf. Cast from bronze, the Capitoline Wolf can be viewed from all sides, and visitors are encouraged to take in a 360-degree view of the sculpture.

The Pieta features a marble Mary cradling the body of Jesus after his crucifixion. Out of all of Michelangelo's extraordinary works of art, The Pieta is the only sculpture that bears the artists name.

Although Rodin's The Thinker has been replicated many times, the original sculpture was part of his Gates of Hell series. The Thinker represents Dante contemplating the "Divine Comedy" as he sits by the gates.

The Easter Island Moai were carved from volcanic rock by the native Rapi Nui people. Each of the Moai represents a person of importance and serves as a memorial. Though you can only see the upper portion, archeologists have discovered that each Moai has a full body.

In total, artist Sylvia Shaw Judson only made four of the Bird Girl sculptures. Three of them when to major US cities, but the fourth was purchased as a memorial and placed in a cemetery. It remained hidden for nearly 50 years until it was used as the cover for "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."

The city of Irving, Texas is home to The Mustangs of La Colinas. The piece features realistic bronze Mustang horses galloping across a stream that is retained with the use of pink granite.

Near Singapore's Cavenagh Bridge, you would be treated to seeing the People of the River. The playful children jumping into the river serve as a reminder to the city's river trade past.

Sculptor Gyula Pauer installed 60 pair of bronze, 1940s style shoes along the banks of the Danube River in Budapest. The shoes commemorate thousands of people who were executed by Nazi forces at the spot during World War II.

When the Taipei Zoo's director thought up his hippo square, he had no idea that it would become such a tourist attraction. Hippos features a collection of realistic, bronze Hippos that seem to swim amongst the bricks that make up the zoo's walkway.

Sitting on the Greek Island of Delos, The Terrace of the Lions was erected around 600 BC. The grainy, marble lions sit across from the lake where Apollo and Athena were said to have been born.

The Burghers of Calais is considered one of Rodin's most successful and loved commissioned pieces. It is carved from Bronze and it commemorates a battle that took place in France during the Hundred Years' War.

Standing on Ellis Island in New York City, the Statue of Liberty stands as a welcoming sign of freedom. Made from gold, copper, steel, and cast Iron, the statue was designed by sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustav Eiffel. It was given to the US as a gift and dedicated in 1886.

The creator of Unique Forms in Continuity, Umberto Boccioni, was a member of a group of early 1900s artists that called themselves The Futurists. The Futurists loved to show the movement in energy, and Unique Forms in Continuity represents forward motion.

The Motherland Calls stands 178 feet tall and sits in Volograd, Russia. The sculpture is a memorial to those who lost their lives a the Battle of Stalingrad. The tip of the sword reaches a whopping 280 feet in the air.

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