Panther
A bronze big cat poised to strike by sculptor Fritz Behn, created around 1920, in the Südpark in Cologne's Marienburg district.
In the Südpark in Cologne's Marienburg neighbourhood stands an animal sculpture by the sculptor Fritz Behn, depicting a panther in a tense, predatory stance. The bronze big cat is owned by the City of Cologne and is a listed monument.
At a Glance
- Type
- Animal sculpture (panther / big cat)
- Artist
- Fritz Behn
- Created
- c. 1920
- Material
- Bronze
- Dimensions
- 71 cm high, 186 cm long
- Location
- Südpark, Cologne-Marienburg (Rodenkirchen district)
- Listed status
- Monument in North Rhine-Westphalia, no. 231
The bronze panther was cast by the renowned Munich foundry Ferdinand von Miller – the same venerable house responsible for the Bavaria statue and other iconic works – and is considered unusually modern for its time (around 1920), as sculptor Fritz Behn deliberately avoided naturalistic detail in favour of a reduced, smooth-surfaced form.
Things to do here
- Admire the bronze panther sculpture in its tense hunting pose
- Take a close look at the artwork's smooth, pared-down design
- Spot the "F. Behn" signature on the plinth
- Snap a souvenir photo with the big cat
- Explore the grounds on a stroll through the Südpark
- Linger on a park bench and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere
The Work
The sculpture portrays a big cat in a coiled, hunting posture. Its form and surface are reduced and smoothly worked — an approach considered distinctly modern for its time. The base bears the signature "F. Behn". The piece was cast using the sand-casting method by Ferdinand von Miller in Munich.
History
Fritz Behn created the sculpture around 1920. A more precise date has not been established, as no original documents survive. On 1 July 1980, it was listed as a protected monument together with the surrounding park under the category of small monument (Kleindenkmal); in the official records it is classified as a listed architectural monument in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Location
The panther stands in the Südpark in Marienburg, which belongs to the Rodenkirchen district. The listed protection covers both the sculpture itself and the park in which it is displayed.
Timeline
- um 1920Bronze sculpture created by Fritz Behn
- 1. Juli 1980Listed as a small monument under protection (monument no. 231)
Map
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Address
Marienburg
50968 Köln
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-27
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