Richard Kissling (15 April 1848 – 19 July 1919) was a Swiss

sculptor Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

, and

medallist A medalist (or medallist) is an artist who designs medals, plaquettes, badges, metal medallions, coins and similar small works in relief in metal. Historically, medalists were typically also involved in producing their designs, and were usually ...

Biography

Born in

Wolfwil Wolfwil is a municipality in the district of Gäu in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. History Wolfwil is first mentioned in 1266 as ''Wolfwiler''. Geography Wolfwil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 54.2% is used for agricultural ...

, Switzerland, Kissling went through apprenticeship as a plasterer before moving to Rome for 13 years, studying under the sculptor Ferdinand Schlöth. At the 1883 National Exhibition in Zurich, Kissling showed a portrait bust of the Swiss politician

Alfred Escher Johann Heinrich Alfred Escher vom Glas, known as Alfred Escher (20 February 1819 – 6 December 1882) was a Swiss politician, business leader and railways pioneer. Thanks to his numerous political posts and his significant role in the foundatio ...

. As a result, he was given the 1889 commission for Escher's statue in bronze and granite, in front of the Arch at

Zürich Hauptbahnhof Zürich Hauptbahnhof (often shortened to Zürich HB, or just HB; ''Zürich Main Station'' or ''Zürich Central Station'') is the largest railway station in Switzerland. Zürich is a major railway hub, with services to and from across Switzerland ...

. Kissling became one of the most widely employed Swiss sculptors for monuments and memorials, although his heroic classical style was increasingly regarded as outdated towards the end of his career. His other works include: * The William Tell Monument in Altdorf, the result of an 1892 national competition and probably Kissling's best-known work. It was inaugurated on August 28, 1895. * ''Jünglingsfigur'', Villa Tobler in Zürich, * statue of

Joachim Vadian Joachim Vadian (29 November 1484 – 6 April 1551), born as Joachim von Watt, was a humanist, scholar, mayor and reformer in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Biography Vadian was born in St. Gallen into a family of wealthy and influential linen mer ...

St. Gallen St. Gallen or traditionally St Gall, in German; it, San Gallo; rm, Son Gagl) is a Swiss city and the capital of the canton of St. Gallen. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a ...

, 1904, *

Rizal Monument The Rizal Monument (original title: ''Motto Stella''; Latin: "guiding star") is a memorial in Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines built to commemorate the executed Filipino nationalist, José Rizal. The monument consists of a standing bronze sculpt ...

Rizal Park Rizal Park ( fil, Liwasang Rizal, es, link=no, Parque Rizal), also known as Luneta Park or simply Luneta, is a historic urban park located in Ermita, Manila. It is considered one of the largest urban parks in the Philippines, covering an area ...

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...

, 1912. A national monument, erected on the park where the Philippine

national hero The title of Hero is presented by various governments in recognition of acts of self-sacrifice to the state, and great achievements in combat or labor. It is originally a Soviet-type honor, and is continued by several nations including Belarus, R ...

was executed.

Selected works

Rizal Monument.jpg, Rizal Monument, Manila Telldenkmal.jpg,

William Tell William Tell (german: Wilhelm Tell, ; french: Guillaume Tell; it, Guglielmo Tell; rm, Guglielm Tell) is a folk hero of Switzerland. According to the legend, Tell was an expert mountain climber and marksman with a crossbow who assassinated Albr ...

Monument, Altdorf Villa Tobler 2011-08-14 19-00-50 ShiftN.jpg, ''Jünglingsfigur'', Villa Tobler in Zürich Zürich 1893 Cantonal Shooting Festival Silver Medal, obverse.jpg, Zürich 1893 Cantonal Shooting Festival Silver Medal, obverse. It shows the design of Kissling's William Tell Monument in Altdorf. Zürich 1893 Cantonal Shooting Festival Silver Medal, reverse.jpg, Kissling's Zürich 1893 Cantonal Shooting Festival Silver Medal, reverse

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kissling, Richard 1848 births 1919 deaths Swiss sculptors 20th-century sculptors 19th-century sculptors