Sculptpedia Statues, Busts and Sculptures Park sculptures and installations Ancient World & Antiquity Middle Ages & Renaissance Marble & Other Stones Bronze & Other Metals

Ludwigs Erbe

Ludwigs Erbe is a triptych by sculptor Peter Lenk on the wall of the town hall in Ludwigshafen am Bodensee, Germany. The work gained nationwide attention for its naked depictions of famous politicians, including Angela Merkel. The project was initiated in 2003 by the local tourism promotion association and approved by the town council under the working title “Toilet Drama and Feudalism.” According to the source text, the artwork was not funded by the municipality with taxpayers’ money; instead, the Kunstfreunde Bodman-Ludwigshafen e.V. helped cover the estimated €30,000 to €35,000 cost, while the community contributed €1,500. The municipality later bought the two side sections and received the middle section, with the agreement that the triptych would remain intact and publicly accessible.

Ludwigs Erbe stone relief with three panels showing a crowded central monument scene and smaller figures on either side.
Ludwigs Erbe, a three-part sculptural relief by Peter Lenk, showing satirical scenes across its panels.
September 2010 © Frank Vincentz · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ludwigs Erbe triptych relief sculpture with three figural panels beside a building, with visitors standing nearby.
Ludwigs Erbe by Peter Lenk, shown as a three-panel relief sculpture in Ludwigshafen am Bodensee.
September 2010 © Frank Vincentz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The stone relief Ludwigs Erbe mounted on an exterior wall, with four people standing in front of it on a lawn.
Ludwigs Erbe, a large stone relief, shown outdoors beside a building with visitors viewing it from the lawn.
September 2010 © Frank Vincentz · CC BY-SA 3.0
Detail of Ludwigs Erbe showing a sculptural relief with a central column and crowded figures on a beige wall.
Detail of Ludwigs Erbe by Peter Lenk in Ludwigshafen am Bodensee.
2008 © Sculpture: Peter Lenk; Photo: Veit Feger · Public domain
Detail of Ludwigs Erbe showing a large tan relief sculpture with many nude figures in dynamic poses.
Detail of Peter Lenk’s Ludwigs Erbe, featuring a crowded relief of nude figures in active poses.
December 2009 © · Public domain

Identification

TitleLudwigs Erbe
TypeTriptych

Creator

ArtistPeter Lenk
Artist's professionSculptor

Historical context

Municipal contribution€1,500
FundingKunstfreunde Bodman-Ludwigshafen e.V. contributed to the creation costs
Creation cost€30,000–€35,000
Funding disputeMedia reports claimed the artwork was financed by the municipality with taxpayers' money, but this was denied
Working titleToilettendrama und Feudalismus ("Toilet Drama and Feudalism")
Initial approvalapproved in principle at a municipal council meeting
Year initiated2003
Initiated bythe local tourism promotion association
Title referenceGrand Duke Ludwig von Baden, who ruled the Grand Duchy of Baden and gave Ludwigshafen its name

Discovery and provenance

Ownership and transferAccording to Lenk, only the central part of the triptych was transferred to the art association, while the two side wings initially remained in his possession
Planned sale of side wingsThe two side wings were to be offered for sale to the municipality in 2010
Municipal purchase decisionIn July 2010, the municipal council decided to buy the two side wings for €40,000
Transfer decisionIn November 2010, the art association decided to transfer the central part to the municipality

Location and ownership

Public accessThe municipality undertook to keep the triptych at its current location and make it publicly accessible to everyone
LocationOn the wall of the town hall in Ludwigshafen am Bodensee, Germany
Presentation rightThe Kunstfreunde Bodman-Ludwigshafen association may continue to present the relief to visitor groups

Appearance

FormTriptych relief
Central panelGrand Duke Ludwig of Baden sits enthroned above the scene
Main subjectMainly contemporary people and events are satirized or parodied
Right panelFive naked politicians touching each other's genitals
Banner textGlobal Players
Lower right panelWell-known top managers are shown bathing in gold coins like Dagobert Duck

Iconography and meaning

Dieter Zetsche identificationDaimler boss
Utz Claassen identificationFormer head of Energie Baden-Württemberg
Ferdinand Piëch identificationFormer chairman of the Volkswagen board
Depicted politiciansAngela Merkel, Edmund Stoiber, Gerhard Schröder, Günther Oettinger, Hans Eichel, Hans Filbinger, and Guido Westerwelle
Dieter Zetsche depictionShown with a sworn oath gesture (raised hand)
Depicted managersDieter Zetsche, Ferdinand Piëch, Josef Ackermann, and Utz Claassen
Depicted local referenceWilderich Graf von und zu Bodman, shown with a pot on his back as an allusion to the fire episode in the history of the House of Bodman
Depicted local figureIngo Lenßen

Significance

NotabilityAttracted nationwide attention because it features nude representations of famous politicians, including Angela Merkel