Richard Wagner Monument and Klinger Steps

The Richard Wagner monument was unveiled in 2013 on the occasion of the composer's 200th birthday. On the base is the 1.80 meter high bronze statue of the young Wagner, which is painted in color. Behind it rises the 4 meter high silhouette of the shadow in the background, which is also made of bronze and is intended to show the older artist. The staircase, which was demolished in the 1970s, was also restored and the marble base designed by Klinger, which has an edge length of 2 meters and a height of 2.9 meters, was placed on top. Incidentally, this depicts the three Rhine maidens from the opera cycle "The Ring of the Nibelung", who are naked.
Source: leipzig-days.de/richard-wagner-denkmal

The Richard Wagner Memorial in Leipzig, designed by Stephan Balkenhol and unveiled in 2013 to celebrate Wagner's 200th birthday, stands symbolically on the Klinger Staircase designed by Max Klinger. This staircase, originally conceived in the 1910s, was demolished in the 1970s and reconstructed in 2010. It is part of a longer historical project to honour Wagner that began in the early 20th century but was delayed several times by various circumstances, including World War I and financial difficulties.The current memorial, a striking, modern sculpture, sparked mixed reactions when it was unveiled. It was partly funded by the sale of bronze replicas that Balkenhol himself had made. The Klinger Staircase and Wagner Memorial now form a significant cultural heritage and tourist attraction in Leipzig, highlighting the city's rich musical history and its deep connections to Richard Wagner.

Old pedestal by Max Klinger, completed with sculptures by the artist Stephan Balkenhol.