Löwenkämpfer, Bronze sculpture at Altes Museum, Berlin, Germany.
Description
The Löwenkämpfer is a bronze sculpture positioned in front of the Altes Museum depicting a bare-chested fighter in hand-to-hand combat with a lion. The figure shows dynamic movement and muscular definition, with a dramatic pose that captures the intense struggle between human and animal.
History
The sculpture was created in 1861 through a collaboration between sculptors Albert Wolff and Christian Daniel Rauch during a period when monumental public artworks were expanding throughout Berlin. It has marked the museum's facade since its installation and exemplifies the era's preference for classical and dramatic subjects in German public sculpture.
Culture
The bronze figure demonstrates the period's emphasis on heroic themes and classical motifs in German public art and architecture.
Practical
The sculpture stands in front of the Altes Museum on Museum Island and is accessible for free from outside at all times since it is displayed in public space. Visitors can view it from multiple angles by walking around it for the best perspective of its dynamic composition.
Did you know?
A second cast of this work is located thousands of kilometers away at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, making it one of the few German monumental sculptures distributed internationally in this way. This duplication demonstrates the high artistic recognition the work achieved after its completion.
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Berlin-Mitte).
Museum Island
341 m
Neues Museum
155 m
Altes Museum
61 m
Deutsches Historisches Museum
146 m
Lustgarten
87 m
Berlin Adorant
38 m
Antikensammlung Berlin
55 m
Granite bowl
44 m
Aphrodite Heyl
55 m
Kolonnadenhof
155 m
Taranto goddess
55 m
Standing Figure of Nefertiti
55 m
Amazone zu Pferde
60 m
Eiserne Bridge
89 m
Neck Amphora by Exekias
55 m
Zeughauskino
89 m
Head of a princess from Amarna
55 m
Berlin glass amphora from Olbia
55 m
School cup
55 m
Samian Hoplite
55 m
Reliefskizze mit Kopf des Echnaton
59 m
Fragment from the tomb of Nikarete
55 m
Buttbrunnen
60 m
Diana (Museumsinsel)
131 m
Herbert Baum monument
151 m
Am Zeughaus 1-2
85 m
Fountain in Lustgarten
86 m
Waterfall
94 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes