Der Große Sitzende

Der Große Sitzende is a bronze sculpture by Maria Lehnen, created and installed in Würzburg in 2004. Its alternative name is Der Gefesselte, meaning The Bound One. The seated human figure stands between Würzburg Cathedral of Saint Kilian and Neumünster Church in the historic centre. Bronze gives the work a solid, enduring presence. Its form has prompted interpretations of a bound person, while the available information leaves the artist’s intention unstated. One interpretation connects it with sculptor Vadim Sidur. The sculpture belongs to the Museum am Dom’s outdoor collection, alongside public artworks across Würzburg’s central old town. Nearby works include fountains with craftsmen figures. Maria Lehnen, born in Nettetal Lobberich in 1949, lives and works as an artist in Mönchengladbach. Other works by Lehnen appear at Museum am Dom. The setting places contemporary bronze beside historic churches, creating a visible meeting point between different eras in Würzburg. The seated posture invites reflection on constraint and freedom.