Bronze sculptures are fantastic works of art that display stunning intricacies. One of the best examples of the power and elegance of the artform is the Charging Bull, a humongous 7,100-pound bronze statue that sits in New York City’s Financial District. Look below to uncover a short history of the famous Wall Street bull.
When Did the Bull First Appear?
The presence of the bull near Wall Street was a shock to New Yorkers when it first appeared in December 1989. That’s because the statue wasn’t a commissioned work but rather a guerilla art project by the Italian-American sculptor Arturo Di Modica. He worked on the sculpture for two years after the infamous 1987 stock market crash with the hopes of inspiring Americans to tap into their inner strength.
Di Modica and some pals leased a crane, lifted the giant artwork onto a flatbed truck, hauled it to the Financial District, and erected it near a spectacular 60-foot Christmas tree on a freezing Thursday night. Di Modica distributed leaflets to passing pedestrians the following day, detailing the meaning of his half-artwork, half-Christmas gift to America.
What Happened Next
While many people came out just to see the impressive 11-foot tall, 16-foot-long statue, the lack of permits caused an issue when the police arrived. Cops impounded the statue and brought it to Queens. However, the public became so enamored of the figure that the NYC Parks and Rec Department brought the statue back to sit in Bowling Green Park, where it remains to this day. The massive bull statue also demonstrates how complex and impressive many bronze sculptures are.
Despite only being around for a little over thirty years, the statue is now an iconic part of the New York locale. Many movies, like The Wolf of Wall Street, feature shots of the intimidating but awe-inspiring sculpture. The NYC Parks and Rec Department doesn’t actually own the Charging Bull, so it’s still technically a temporary display despite its importance to the city at large.
Why a Bull?
Bulls and bears are two terms used to describe Wall Street investors. Bulls are those that buy shares of stocks because they believe the market will continue to go up while bears sell off their stocks because they’re worried the market will go in the red. The bull statue pays respect to investors’ aggressive power and success by reclining back on its haunches and lowering its head as though ready to charge.
Hopefully, this short history of the famous Wall Street bull has shed light on a powerful American symbol. I’m offering a bronze bull statue for sale so you can display the highly-detailed, majestic presence of this noble creature in your own home or workplace. Feel free to contact me with any questions about my pieces.
