Lightning Thrower
The Blitzeschleuderer is a bronze sculpture by the German sculptor Hubert Netzer (1865–1939). It represents the old Germanic thunderstorm god Donar , who hurls lightning bolts into the country with his right hand. It is in Düsseldorf .
history
Netzer originally designed the sculpture for Helvetiaplatz in Bern in 1913 . On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its founding, the International Telecommunication Union planned the erection of a world telegraph monument there, which was to give clear expression to the idea of telegraphy. Netzer created a youthful Zeus for the competition who throws lightning bolts with his right hand. His design was awarded second place, the proposal of the Italian sculptor Giuseppe Romagnoli was implemented .
Netzer revised his design under the influence of the First World War. The sweeping movement of the right arm has been reworked, the tip of the robe fitted over the right shoulder. The young Zeus became the angry Donar. The 1.9 ton work was made in the Düsseldorf art foundry Gustav Schmäke . It adorned the vestibule of the Kunstpalast during the Great Berlin Exhibition in 1918. With the construction of the first Rheinstadion in 1926, it found its permanent place in the south curve of the stadium. In the course of the renovation work for the 1974 World Cup and the installation of a display panel, the plastic was moved to the steps of the neighboring outdoor pool. When the Rheinstadion was demolished for the new arena in 2002, it was placed in a depot. After restoration, it was set up again in September 2004 at its current location in a roundabout on Heinz-Ingenstau-Straße in Düsseldorf.
literature
- Richard Klapheck : Hubert Netzer . In: Die Kunst, monthly journals for free and applied arts . Munich 1918. Volume 37, year 33. Page 348–361.
- The “Blitzeschleuderer” has returned , in: Rheinische Post Online, September 2, 2004
Web links
- Entry in the monument list of the state capital Düsseldorf at the Institute for Monument Protection and Preservation
Coordinates: 51 ° 15 ′ 33 " N , 6 ° 43 ′ 57" E