Have you ever wondered why people would spend thousands of dollars to travel from different parts of the world just to see a sculptured bronze beast? And parts of what you have to wonder is, how did it become so famous that every single day, it attracts the attention of the whole world? The Charging bull attracts hundreds of tourists across the globe on daily basis, thousands of people on monthly, and millions of people annually. People striking poses, snapping pictures of it. You may be wondering, how did it become that iconic and famous? And there are many controversies about the Charging bull. Why must it be situated right at the center of the financial district? Moreover, why must people travel across the globe just to rub its testicles? What does that even mean? Could there be more to the Charging Bull than what we already know?
The Charging Bull is the hand work of an Italian-American artist, Arturo Di Modica, born in 1941 who started sculpting since he was a teen and eventually moved to Florence where he became well-known throughout Italy because of his work.
For that reason, here are the ten important things you never knew about the Charging bull.
- The Charging Bull Represents Prosperity and Financial Optimism: built right after the crash of the stock market, Arturo Di Modica was thoughtful enough to create something that would inspire hope and confidence in the people and also to celebrate their resilience through the tough times. Just when everyone was despondent, with the future uncertain, The Charging Bull became some sort of epitome of consolation.
- It is the Universal Symbol of the American Financial market: The Charging Bull depicts the symbol of a rising market which is commonly known as bullish in the stock market. This was in the anticipation of a thriving US economy, which was what almost everyone was fighting for after the crash of the stock market. For this term, ever since its inception, that was why the charging bull was meant to represent the financial district because, it came after the American stock market crash.
- The Charging Bull as an Art of Inspiration Was Not Cheap: Di Modica started working on the bull in 1987. He made the awesome sculpture as homage to Americans who he thought have supported his career as a sculptor. Di Modica spent 360,000 dollars just to build the Charging Bull. His goal was to inspire people to be strong during tough moments, and to also acknowledge the endurance of the American business professionals.
- It is One of the Most Popular Sights in The New York: Among the other statues in New York City, such as the Statue of liberty, Brooklyn bridge, fearless girl which is the statue of a girl staring down at the bull, the charging bull seems to be the most icon with the most views and admiration from tourists all over the world.
- The Bull is a Controversial Statue: Have you ever wondered why tourists rub the bull’s belly and testicles? Most people believe that touching the bull’s belly brings good fortune and prosperity. Judging the way people travel from around the world just to see the bull, pose and snap pictures in front of it, you can easily mistake it as some sort of god. People said it was overly idolized because, religiously, it was almost compared to the biblical golden calf made by Aaron for the children of Israel to worship. This is why most overly religious people detest the bull, because they mistake it for an idol.
- The Bull is The Icon of the Wall Street: Over time, the bull has managed to successfully become the face of the financial district and the wall street. Presently in the world, where ever you see the bull featured on the paper, there are chances that they are talking about the stock market.
- It Weighs Over 7000 Pounds: This incredible sculpture is eleven feet tall and 16 feet long. These are mind-blowing features which required great strength and skills to create, transport, and to install.
- The Charging Bull Was Once Rejected: When Di Modica first dropped the charging bull in front of wall street, there was something that seemed really quit unsettling with the security agency of the district. Because, just a few hours later after the bull was dropped, the district police move it away and tagged it illegal. For that reason, the charging bull was neither commissioned, nor approved. Although the bull was short-lived, but the people had already fell in love with it and demanded that the bull should be brought back to the financial district.
- It Took Two Good Years to be Made: It took Di Modica two good years to put together the excellent piece of bronze and stainless steel sculpture which we know today as the great Charging Bull of New York.
- The Bull Was Once Put up for Sale: In 2004, Di Modica placed a price on the bull to sell it off. But he clearly stated with exception that whosoever that is going to buy the bull is not going to move it out of its original position. And the agreement has to be signed and documented. But till now, fortunately, no one has ever opted to purchase the bull. Now that kept me wondering, because the question is, why would anyone even desire to buy a thing like the Charging Bull? What’s the buyer going to do with it? I don’t know. Please let me know what you think in the comment section, and thank you for sticking around.
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