I couldn’t find much, it was made by Karl Schwerzek, and the egyptian figure is described as a sphinx (which might be intended as the greek mythology one, I’m not sure)- but searching for Nikolaus Lenau and Sphinx didn’t turn up anything unrelated to the monument.
In the newspaper article about the revelation, it says: „[…] Sphinx as the unsolved riddle of a poet’s tragic life.“
Immedimoeba1223332 on
The Sphinx is supposed to symbolize the unsolved riddle of the poet’s life. According to newspaper articles from when it was revealed. (https://www.austriasites.com/vienna/bezirk01_nikolaus_lenau_denkmal.htm) My personal opinion, the sculptor wanted to add something Egyptian because it looks cool.
Bacdy09 on
symbol for strength, wisdom, mystery…
Classic_South_5374 on
Lenau war ein Dichter der Romantik und hat sich mit Todessehnsucht und Melancholie beschäftigt. Der agyptische Sphinx Kopf ist eine Allegorie und verkörpert das Rätsel des Lebens und Todes. Es ist quasi ein Symbol für das was Lenau oft thematisierte und zeitlebens beschäftigte.
Sinistrahaha on
I think it has to do with the art at that time. „Historismus“ was modern back than, starting around 1850, with symbols of historical art, especially Egyptian. You’ll see it in and at many buildings in Vienna and in paintings too. It’s a bit irritating, I know.
After that came Jugendstil, known for natural and floral symbols, still partly mixed with historical ones.
carrraldo on
„Way-oh-way-oh, way-oh-way-oh“
Nikolaus Lenau walked like an Egyptian
Leave A Reply
Du musst angemeldet sein, um einen Kommentar abzugeben.
8 Kommentare
He was half Egyptian
I couldn’t find much, it was made by Karl Schwerzek, and the egyptian figure is described as a sphinx (which might be intended as the greek mythology one, I’m not sure)- but searching for Nikolaus Lenau and Sphinx didn’t turn up anything unrelated to the monument.
[http://www.viennatouristguide.at/Ring/Denkmal_Bild/z_lenau.htm](http://www.viennatouristguide.at/Ring/Denkmal_Bild/z_lenau.htm)
[https://www.austriasites.com/vienna/bezirk01_nikolaus_lenau_denkmal.htm](https://www.austriasites.com/vienna/bezirk01_nikolaus_lenau_denkmal.htm)
In the newspaper article about the revelation, it says: „[…] Sphinx as the unsolved riddle of a poet’s tragic life.“
The Sphinx is supposed to symbolize the unsolved riddle of the poet’s life. According to newspaper articles from when it was revealed. (https://www.austriasites.com/vienna/bezirk01_nikolaus_lenau_denkmal.htm) My personal opinion, the sculptor wanted to add something Egyptian because it looks cool.
symbol for strength, wisdom, mystery…
Lenau war ein Dichter der Romantik und hat sich mit Todessehnsucht und Melancholie beschäftigt. Der agyptische Sphinx Kopf ist eine Allegorie und verkörpert das Rätsel des Lebens und Todes. Es ist quasi ein Symbol für das was Lenau oft thematisierte und zeitlebens beschäftigte.
I think it has to do with the art at that time. „Historismus“ was modern back than, starting around 1850, with symbols of historical art, especially Egyptian. You’ll see it in and at many buildings in Vienna and in paintings too. It’s a bit irritating, I know.
After that came Jugendstil, known for natural and floral symbols, still partly mixed with historical ones.
„Way-oh-way-oh, way-oh-way-oh“
Nikolaus Lenau walked like an Egyptian