The Shipwrecked

The Shipwrecked depicts a family in a moment of maritime disaster: a father holds his child while signaling for help, and a mother rests on a raft. The figures are cast in bronze and stand on a granite pedestal in Tähtitorninvuori park.

Sculptor Robert Stigell first designed this work as a plaster model in the early 1890s and later cast it in bronze, completing the final version in Paris in 1898. Its installation in Helsinki followed shortly afterward, becoming a significant moment in Finnish sculptural development.

This work marked a turning point for public art in Helsinki, being the first monument without connection to a specific person or event. Its subject matter showed how Finnish artists of that era wanted to focus on universal human themes rather than historical figures.

The sculpture sits in an open park setting and is easily accessible via wheelchair-friendly paths year-round. The surrounding area offers pleasant grounds for a casual visit without needing to plan specific timing.

At its November 1898 unveiling, speaker Leo Mechelin deliberately connected the work to Finland's political situation under Russian rule. This connection showed how deeply contemporaries understood the artistic message embedded in the sculpture.

Location: Helsinki

Inception: 1898

Creator: Robert Stigell

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Made from material: bronze, granite

Website: https://hamhelsinki.fi/veistos/haaksirikkoiset

GPS coordinates: 60.16185,24.95535

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:04