Rocky Statue, Bronze statue at Philadelphia Museum of Art, United States
This bronze sculpture stands at the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, depicting a boxer with raised fists in a triumphant pose. The artwork was created by artist A. Thomas Schomberg and sits in a central location where it can be easily seen by passersby.
The three-metre bronze was completed in 1982, designed by A. Thomas Schomberg for Sylvester Stallone's film Rocky III. It first stood at the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, then was moved beside the museum after the museum's department treated it as film prop rather than art, despite Stallone's donation attempts and public reaction. It returned to the steps for filming Rocky V.
The statue was made for the film Rocky III, in which Sylvester Stallone plays the boxer Rocky Balboa. Visitors often stand at its base and raise their arms in imitation of the figure. The museum department treated it as a film prop rather than art, which is why it stands beside the building instead of on the steps.
The statue stands beside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, not on its famous steps; look for it at ground level next to the building. The steps themselves are a short walk away, so the two are easily combined on foot. The site is outdoors and open to view at any hour.
The statue was made for Rocky III and later put back atop the museum steps for the filming of Rocky V. The museum division treated it as a film prop rather than art, which is why it was moved beside the building despite Stallone's donation attempt and public reaction.
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