Cosima Wagner (1837-1930)
Portrait bust of Arno Breker (1900-1991), bronze, 1979
Arno Breker created this depiction of Cosima Wagner on behalf of the city of Bayreuth. As early as 1976, Breker created the bust of Franz Liszt here in the park as a commissioned work, and in 1986, commissioned by the city of Bayreuth, he created the bust of Richard Wagner as a replacement for the similar marble sculpture from 1939.
Breker and his style were particularly appreciated by those in power during the National Socialist era. As a “formed mentality” and “formed world view,” Breker’s works represent the Third Reich’s conception of art in a similar way to Albert Speer’s architecture.
Nevertheless, he continued to receive numerous commissions after 1945 and primarily created portrait busts of prominent personalities.
(Source: information board on site)