Which French sculptor designed Christ the Redeemer?

The French sculptor associated with designing Christ the Redeemer is Paul Landowski. The French-Polish artist collaborated with Brazilian engineer and designer Heitor da Silva Costa on the monumental statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Construction took place from 1922 to 1931 on Corcovado mountain. Landowski contributed to the sculptural design, particularly the figure’s head and hands, while da Silva Costa directed the Brazilian project and its engineering. French engineer Albert Caquot helped develop the reinforced-concrete structure, and Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida created the face.

The finished Art Deco statue differs from the original proposal, which showed Christ holding a globe in one hand and a cross in the other. The project was redesigned with both arms extended, creating the familiar image of an embrace over Rio. The statue is 30 metres high, excluding its 8-metre pedestal, with arms spanning 28 metres.

Auguste Rodin and Antoine Bourdelle were prominent French sculptors, but neither designed Christ the Redeemer. The monument was dedicated in 1931 and became one of Brazil’s best-known cultural symbols.