Buzz
The nature of artistic brilliance is often unpredictable. Just as you immerse yourself in one project, a new, dazzling idea captures your imagination, pulling you in a different direction. Leonardo da Vinci, celebrated for his masterpieces, was equally notorious among his patrons for failing to complete commissioned works. One such project was his vision for the world's largest equestrian statue, which never progressed beyond a clay prototype. Similarly, some artists embarked on sculpting endeavors but, due to various circumstances, left them incomplete.
Below, we explore ten of the most remarkable, though unfinished, sculptures ever conceived.
10. Apollo-David
Michelangelo, a younger peer of Leonardo, shared a fierce rivalry with him as both sought to produce the most extraordinary creations of their era. When Leonardo ridiculed Michelangelo, the latter retaliated by branding Leonardo a “horse-modeller” who failed to cast a bronze statue and abandoned the project in disgrace. However, Michelangelo himself, as history shows, also left several of his works incomplete.
During Michelangelo's lifetime, Italy was divided into numerous conflicting states. Following a siege, the pope appointed a harsh governor to oversee Florence, who commissioned Michelangelo to create a statue. However, when a new duke assumed control of the city, the project was discarded, and Michelangelo departed, leaving the sculpture so unfinished that its subject remains a topic of debate.
Is the figure reaching for an arrow like Apollo, or preparing a sling to defeat Goliath, as David would? Regardless, it stands as a breathtaking masterpiece.
9. Atlas Slave
Michelangelo was renowned for his ‘non-finito’ technique. Vasari, an early art historian, noted that “the grandeur of his visions often surpassed his ability to execute them, leading him to abandon or even destroy many works… fearing they might fall short of perfection.”
Pope Julius II, famously known as the Fearsome Pope, had grand ambitions when he shifted his focus to art. Among his notable accomplishments was commissioning Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel. When Julius desired a tomb, he once again enlisted Michelangelo, envisioning a mausoleum fit for a great leader, complete with sculpted masterpieces surrounding it.
Among the planned sculptures were the prisoners, including the Awakening Slave, the Bearded Slave, the Young Slave, and the Atlas Slave. These figures were intended to embellish Julius’ tomb but were never finished. Today, they are celebrated as human forms seemingly striving to break free from marble, offering art historians valuable insights into Michelangelo’s methods.
8. Taddei Tondo
The UK is home to only one marble sculpture by Michelangelo, a treasured piece in the Royal Academy’s collection. ‘Virgin and Child with the Infant St John,’ another incomplete work by Michelangelo, remains a stunning artistic achievement.
Also referred to as the Taddei Tondo (a tondo being a circular artwork), it showcases the forceful and rapid chisel strokes Michelangelo employed. The back of the sculpture features a faint crack, likely caused by his hammer strikes, and a missing section that hints at his swift, dynamic approach.
The Taddei Tondo has recently sparked headlines due to debates over whether the Royal Academy should sell it to stabilize its finances. Estimates suggest the sculpture could fetch up to £100 million.
7. Rondanini Pieta
Michelangelo’s Vatican Pieta is among the world’s most renowned sculptures, depicting the Virgin Mary cradling Jesus after the crucifixion in a profoundly emotional composition. However, this wasn’t the only time Michelangelo tackled this theme. His final piece, left incomplete at his death, presents the figures in an entirely distinct arrangement.
The current state of the sculpture is not the initial version Michelangelo envisioned. Dissatisfied with his progress, he chiseled away most of his earlier work, leaving only Jesus’ right arm intact.
Michelangelo once remarked, “I hold in high regard the creations of a great master, even if they were executed swiftly. Art should not be judged by the time invested but by the talent, skill, and mastery of its creator.” Thus, he might not have lamented the many works left unfinished at his death.
6. Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan
The ancient Egyptians were renowned for their colossal artistic endeavors, including towering obelisks that reached for the heavens long before skyscrapers dominated modern skylines. The largest obelisk ever unearthed stood approximately 42 meters (140 feet) tall, intended to surpass all others by a third. Sadly, during its extraction from the rock, the obelisk cracked, halting its completion.
Commissioned by the notable female Pharaoh Hatshepsut roughly 3,500 years ago, the obelisk began to fracture as it was being quarried. While this was a setback for the ancient Egyptians, it provided modern archaeologists with invaluable insights into their construction techniques.
Hollows in the rock indicate where artisans hammered dry wooden wedges, which were then soaked in water to expand. This expansion created pressure, splitting the stone. While this method was effective, the cracks that doomed the obelisk were an unfortunate exception.
5. Monument to Humanity
Discussions about the historical tensions between Turkey and Armenia often spark controversy. Evidence suggests that during 1914–1923, Ottoman forces expelled Armenians from their lands, with disputed estimates claiming around 1.5 million deaths. While the Turkish government denies any culpability, many label this period as the Armenian Genocide.
Against this fraught backdrop, Naif Alibeyoglu, mayor of a Turkish town, sought to create a monument to foster reconciliation. The Monument to Humanity, featuring two figures facing each other, was designed to stand 100 feet tall.
The project faced immediate backlash, with critics interpreting one figure bowing its head as an admission of Turkish guilt. Construction was halted, leaving the monument incomplete. At its base lies a massive hand, titled ‘The Hand of Friendship,’ now destined to remain unfinished.
4. El Gigante
The iconic Moai statues of Easter Island are globally renowned. These enigmatic figures, often called Easter Island Heads (despite having bodies), vary in size. The tallest standing Moai, Paro, measures 10 meters (33 feet). However, an even larger statue, El Gigante, was intended to surpass it but never left the quarry.
El Gigante, towering at 72 feet, was more than double the height of Paro. The creators of the Moai may have overreached with this colossal project, as its staggering weight of 170 tons posed immense challenges for the Easter Islanders. Without wheels or metal tools, they relied on sledges and logs to transport and erect these massive statues.
Today, El Gigante remains in the quarry where it was carved, unfinished and unmoved, eternally gazing at the sky. This fate is arguably more dignified than that of many other Moai, which were toppled face-down into the dirt during the 18th century.
3. Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse, a revered 19th-century war leader of the Oglala Lakota, was celebrated by both his people and adversaries. In the 1930s, Henry Standing Bear envisioned a monument to honor Crazy Horse, aiming to rival Mount Rushmore. He wrote to Polish sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, stating, “My fellow chiefs and I want the white man to know that the red man also has great heroes.”
Construction began in 1948 with a dynamite blast, and over the decades, millions of tons of rock have been removed to reveal the emerging sculpture. Ziolkowski oversaw the project until his death in 1982. Work continues today, though the completion date remains uncertain.
Upon completion, the statue will rise to 172 meters (563 feet), securing its place as the world’s second-largest statue. The combined faces of Mount Rushmore could fit within the head of Crazy Horse.
2. Kouros of Apollonas
Ancient Greek art often celebrated the youthful male form, with kouroi statues scattered across the Greek world. These sculptures reflect the evolution of Greek artistry over centuries. While most kouroi are life-sized, some were intended to be far more imposing.
A kouros discovered in Apollonas on Naxos Island was meant to stand 10 meters tall—had it ever been completed. Begun in the 8th century BC, it never left the quarry. Unlike typical kouroi, this statue depicts an older, bearded figure, leading some archaeologists to believe it represents a deity, possibly Apollo or Dionysus.
The reason for abandoning the statue remains a mystery. Some speculate that visible cracks made it unusable, while others suggest its immense weight made transportation impossible.
1. Grandfather Cuts Loose the Ponies
David Govedare created a striking sculpture of galloping horses to commemorate Washington’s centennial as a state. Each life-sized horse, weighing over 1,000 pounds, is a prominent artistic attraction in the region. However, the piece remains incomplete, falling short of the artist’s original vision.
The intended design featured the horses bursting forth from a basket, symbolizing a gift from the Grandfather Spirit. He was to proclaim, “Creatures of this planet, behold, a Great Basket! I send this basket, bearing the gift of life, to all corners of the universe. Now, take these ponies; I am cutting them loose. They will inspire a spirit of free will. They will be a companion for work and play on this planet.”
Funding shortages halted the project before the elaborate basket could be finished. Local artists were to adorn the basket with depictions of people and nature. Despite setbacks, the artist remains hopeful, recently aiming to raise $1 million to bring his vision to life.
