Quadriga of Brunswick, Bronze statue in Brunswick, Germany

The Quadriga of Brunswick is a bronze four-horse chariot group that sits atop the reconstructed Braunschweig Palace, rising approximately 9 meters high. Mythological and allegorical figures ride the chariot, positioned symbolically on the roof of the palace structure.

The first Quadriga was commissioned in 1855 as a gift for Duke Wilhelm's 25th throne jubilee. Ernst Rietschel designed the 1:3 model, but the full-size group was hammered from copper sheets by Georg Ferdinand Howaldt and his sons between 1857 and 1863. It was placed on the palace in autumn 1863 and destroyed in the palace fire on 24 February 1865; only Brunonia's head survived. The current group, cast in silicon bronze between 2006 and 2008, is the third version based on Rietschel's model and was installed on 23 October 2008.

The figures atop the chariot represent power and civilization through their classical forms. These bronze representations show how local rulers chose to display authority and their vision of leadership.

The work is clearly visible from outside since it is positioned on the palace roof and can be viewed from various positions around the building. The best view is from the street or plaza in front of the palace, where you can see the full height and details of the figures.

The 1:3 scale model made between 1890 and 1893 for the Chicago World's Fair later stood on the Züchner-Villa in Seesen am Harz from 1923 until it was dismantled on 24 March 2018. The full-size group is the largest of the five quadrigas in Germany, weighing 25.8 tonnes and reaching 9.50 metres.