Golden Rider, Equestrian monument at Neustädter Markt, Dresden, Germany
The Golden Rider is an equestrian monument in the Neustadt district showing Augustus II on horseback, made from copper and covered with gold leaf. The work stands at a prominent location and rises above the surrounding area as a substantial public sculpture.
The monument was commissioned after Augustus II died in 1733 and was completed by French sculptor Jean-Joseph Vinache in 1736. The work was created to honor the memory of the Saxon ruler.
The statue depicts Augustus II in Roman emperor clothing, a style used to show European rulers as powerful leaders in public spaces. This type of representation was common for important monuments during that era.
The square is easily accessible by tram lines 4 and 8, which stop directly at Neustädter Markt. The monument sits at the start of Hauptstrasse and is simple to locate from many directions.
During World War II, the monument was taken apart and hidden in a cave near Pillnitz to protect it from the 1945 bombing campaign. This precaution allowed one of the city's most significant works to survive intact.
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