The Italian Stallion is making a triumphant return.
The renowned statue of the fictional boxer, Rocky Balboa, which has graced the grounds outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is being elevated from a popular public landmark to a recognized piece of fine art.
After years of a nuanced relationship between the museum and this globally recognized symbol, reminiscent of the beloved 1979 film, curators have finally embraced the bronze Balboa. They have decided to feature the nearly 2-ton sculpture within their walls, enriching their summer exhibits, as reported by NBC News.
Launching this weekend, “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments” will showcase the legendary boxer’s statue as a central piece.
This exhibit delves into how a fictional character and his statue have become emblematic of Philadelphia’s identity. It explores “over two thousand years of artistic involvement with boxing and fame,” according to details on the museum’s website.
Spanning from ancient artworks to creations by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, the exhibit highlights what the Rocky statue represents to its admirers: the essence of the underdog, including perseverance, spirit, and determination—qualities forged through the history of boxing and personal experiences of hardship and ambition, as noted on the website.
The statue based on Sylvester Stallone’s titular “Rocky” landed near the bottom of the museum’s steps because of the film’s iconic scene of the Italian Stallion jogging through the streets of Philly trailed by an ever-growing crowd of supporters culminating in a sprint up the museum steps.
It is visited by roughly 4 million people each year, according to the Philadelphia Visitor Center.
Meanwhile, a Rocky statue on loan from Stallone’s private collection has been temporarily placed at the top of the steps — replacing the city’s own.
In August, when the exhibit ends, the city statue will be brought back outside and placed at the top of the museum’s steps in place of Stallone’s personal one.
At the bottom of steps where the Rocky statue long called home, a new statue is being built to honor legendary Philadelphia boxer “Smokin” Joe Frazier, whose real-life story at least partially inspired Rocky.
“Without Joe Frazier, Rocky doesn’t exist,” said Louis Marchesano, the museum’s deputy director of curatorial affairs and conservation.
