Yesterday’s column neglected to mention the artist who sculpted the magnificent Rottweiler statuein Rottweil, Germany.
The artist’s name is Ottmar Hrl, he’s based in Wertheim,and he created this monument to K9 magnificence as part of a 2005outdoor art installationcalled, appropriately, “The Rottweil Dogs.”
Six years ago, on the grounds of the Erich Hauser Art Foundation’s Sculpture Parkin Rottweil, Hrl installed no fewer than 500 castings of his Rottweil dog, interpersedwith Hauser’s abstract, steel sculptures spanning the 1960s to the 1990s. (See the photo above.)
Shortly after that initial exhibition at the Hauser Sculpture Park, The Rottweil Dogs made the move from grassy field to city street, traveling toRottweil’s Pedestrian Zone. That must’ve been some sight: A huge pack of bronze Rottweilers sitting calmly at attention smack in the middle of their home town!
During that event, the dog sculptures were made available for sale, and Karin Abt of Stuttgart purchased one to donate to the town of Rottweil, where it was erected in 2007. So, the plaque on the statue reads:
The Rottweiler
After an art project of Ottmar Horl / 2005
Courtesy of Karin Abt / Stuttgart
Casting Helmut Stromsky / Esslingen
Stadt Rottweil / Forum Kunst
Kunststiftung Erich Hauser
Hrlexpresses himself in multiples, and often references the animal kingdom in his work. Notably, heinstalled 300 bronze sea lions at the Aquarius Wassermuseum (Water Museum)in Mlheimlast year,and 300 gold-leafed rats atFriedberg’s Bavarian Castle Museum in 2007.
The RottweilHundisn’t the onlywork this artistendowed with built-in appeal to Dogsters.Hrl alsomade a monument to composer Richard Strauss’s love for Newfoundlands. The bronze Newf, pictured at left,went on display in 2004 at the Wagner Museum in Tribschen, the Alpine retreat where Wagner completed his famous work “Die Meistersinger von Nrnberg.”
To purchase smaller versions of Hrl’s works, including a gold-leafed Pug, go here.
Know of any other K9 monuments worth visiting? Please share any and all dog art leadsin the comments!
