12 Surprising Facts About Famous Sculptures You’ve Seen a Million Times—Just in Time for International Sculpture Day
These famous sculptures have hidden details and unexpected histories that most people have never learned.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Many of the world’s most recognized sculptures have unusual backstories that are not commonly shared. From misattributions to political rejections, these artworks have experienced more than what is shown on the surface. This list reveals factual details that change how we understand them today.
1. Michelangelo’s David has asymmetrical eyes
George M. Groutas on Wikimedia Commons
One of David’s eyes looks forward, while the other is slightly off to the side. Scholars believe this was intentional, possibly to enhance the effect from a viewer standing below. The sculpture was designed to be viewed from one dominant angle in Florence. This choice reflects Michelangelo’s advanced understanding of visual perspective.
2. The Venus de Milo was discovered without arms
Wilfredo Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez on Wikimedia Commons
When the statue was found on the Greek island of Milos in 1820, its arms were already missing. There is no record of them being broken off later. The exact position and activity of her arms remain unknown. Some experts have proposed theories using similar statues as reference.
3. The Thinker was part of a larger sculpture
AndrewHorne (talk) on Wikimedia Commons
The Thinker was originally created as a small figure for a work called The Gates of Hell. This project was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy. Auguste Rodin later enlarged the figure and displayed it as a separate sculpture. It was not initially intended to represent philosophical thought.
4. The Statue of Liberty was first proposed to Egypt
Carlos Delgado on Wikimedia Commons
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi suggested building a similar statue at the entrance to the Suez Canal. The design featured a woman holding a torch to symbolize progress. Egypt declined due to cost concerns. The idea was later adapted and offered to the United States.
5. Mount Rushmore was never completed
Doug Pyzel on Wikimedia Commons
The original plan included full upper bodies of the four presidents. The project also intended to feature a carved hall of records behind the faces. The sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, died before it was finished. Work stopped permanently due to funding and wartime priorities.
6. Michelangelo signed the Pieta out of frustration
Stanislav Traykov on Wikimedia Commons
After people began attributing the sculpture to other artists, Michelangelo returned to carve his name on Mary’s sash. He was 24 years old at the time. It is the only work he ever signed. He later said he regretted doing it.
7. Each Terracotta Warrior is unique
Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. on Wikimedia Commons
The Terracotta Army includes more than 8,000 individual figures. Each face has distinct features, hairstyles, and armor. Researchers believe artists followed general templates but made detailed customizations. The army was created to protect the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
8. Christ the Redeemer was built using soapstone tiles
Mucio Scorzelli on Wikimedia Commons
The statue was constructed from reinforced concrete and then covered with soapstone. Soapstone was chosen because it is resistant to heat and rain. Construction took nine years, from 1922 to 1931. The monument stands over 700 meters above sea level.
9. The Little Mermaid statue has been damaged multiple times
Gary Todd on Wikimedia Commons
The statue has been decapitated twice since it was installed in Copenhagen in 1913. It has also been painted and knocked off its base. The government restores it each time, and it remains one of Denmark’s most visited landmarks.
10. The Lincoln Memorial may include sign language
Mojnsen on Wikimedia Commons
Sculptor Daniel Chester French positioned Lincoln’s hands in a specific way. Some researchers believe they form the letters A and L in American Sign Language. French had a deaf son, which supports this possibility. However, this interpretation has not been officially confirmed.
11. The Moai statues on Easter Island have full bodies
Docrgd on Wikimedia Commons
Only the heads of the statues are visible above ground. Excavations have revealed that many have full torsos beneath the surface. Some of the buried sections are decorated with carvings. The soil around them accumulated over centuries.
12. The pose in Discobolus is anatomically inaccurate
Dale Cruse on Wikimedia Commons
The sculpture shows an athlete in the middle of a discus throw. However, modern sports analysis has found that the pose would not result in an effective throw. It was created more for aesthetic value than realism. The original statue was made by Myron around 460 BCE.