The finest sculptures in the world and where to see them

The world is full of wonderful art pieces left behind by legendary artists. The very first thing that comes to mind when talking about art is paintings of course, but there are numerous other forms of art, such as sculpting. Sculpting requires a ton of patience, and is one of the most difficult forms of art. But we are lucky to have had some incredibly talented artists who have left behind a rich body of work.

Here we will take a look at some of the most popular sculptures in the world, and where you can see them.

The Italian master Michelangelo is one of the foremost artists the world has ever seen, and his statue of David is certainly worthy of praise. It is one of the most iconic pieces of art, and you can see it in the Accademia Gallery of Florence. The marble statue is of the biblical David, and is visited by numerous tourists from across the world.

The pillars of Ashoka are monolithic columns that are spread across the Indian subcontinent. These were erected during the reign of Emperor Ashoka. In India you will find them spread across the country, from Bihar, to Sarnath, and even in Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh. The most important of them all is the Lion Capital of Ashoka found in Sarnath. The four lions facing the four directions is also the national emblem of India.

One of the finest works of French sculptor Camille Claudel, this wonderful piece of art has two bronze versions both of which are in Paris. One is at the Musée d'Orsay, while the other is the Musée Rodin. The art works depict a man leaving youth behind and going towards old age, and death. While some say that it is a depiction of Caludel pleading Auguste Rodin to return to her. Auguste Rodin, the famous French sculptor and Claudel had a romantic relationship.

An incredible masterpiece, this was unearthed in Rome way back in 1506. The sculpture shows Laocoön, who was a Trojan priest, along with his children, being attacked by sea serpents. Often referred to as the prototypical icon of human agony, the work has been attributed to Agesander, Athenodoros, and Polydorus, who were Greek sculptors. There are various versions of the story of Laocoön, though Homer himself have not mentioned him. He famously finds mention in Virgil's Aeneid. You can see it in Vatican Museums, Vatican City.