Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - The artist Markus Lüpertz (81) has given Düsseldorf a monumental monument to the famous musician couple Clara and Robert Schumann. The sculpture "A Danse À Deux" (roughly: A dance for two) was unveiled on Thursday in the presence of Lüpertz and Mayor Stephan Keller at the Ratinger Tor in the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The sculpture depicts two intertwined figures and is in the artistic style typical of Lüpertz. It is chunky, with paint applied, the stocky limbs are twisted, a chair hangs between them. The sculpture is around 2.40 meters high and has a base that is around 1.20 meters high.
The long-standing rector of the Düsseldorf Art Academy wanted to honor the life's work of Robert (1810-1856) and Clara (1819-1896) Schumann with the sculpture, the city announced. The couple had lived in Düsseldorf for some time in the mid-19th century. The last common house there is currently being renovated.
Lüpertz, who is also known as the "painter's prince" because of his extravagant style of clothing, is often offended with his eccentric works of art. For example, he created a Beethoven without arms in Bonn, a Mozart as a hybrid torso in Salzburg and a one-armed Hercules in Gelsenkirchen.
