Definition
a human or animal image that is made of stone, wood, metal, etc. and is usually large
Origin and usage
Statue comes from the Latin word ‘statua’, which comes from the verb ‘stare’ meaning ‘to stand’. It was first used in English at the very end of the 14th century.
Examples
The word statue generally refers to a freestanding figure of lifesize or larger. Statues are generally found in public places, are usually made of durable materials such as wood, metal or stone, and often commemorate famous people or important events. The oldest known statues are about 30,000 years old, while the tallest is 182 metres tall and is located in Gujarat, India. It is called the Statue of Unity and commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first deputy prime minister. It cost almost 30 billion rupees (£330 million) to build, is clad in bronze and was unveiled at the end of October 2018.
Quotations
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
(attributed to Michelangelo)
“Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honour of a critic.”(Jean Sibelius)
Related words
bas-relief, figurine, sculpture, statuette
