What's on

'When I accepted this assignment I committed myself to making a statue with significance and vigour. A statue that matters. The equestrian statue of Weert is the first in the province of Limburg – the eighth in the Netherlands.'

Philips de Montmorency, cast in bronze by Jos Dirix, is a nobleman. Lofty on horseback, with his straight posture and his head held high. Stripped of pomp and circumstance, scantily clad. Horseman on horseback. Active. 'The horse and rider set off for Brussels in the year 1568. The horse holds back, reluctantly drawing away. With ears pointed. It seems to know what will happen in Brussels. It seems to know the ill-fated ending of the journey. The rider, in his turn, waves the civilians of Weert farewell. He shows an open hand, a sign of vulnerability. The horseman and the horse both show their loyalty.' Jos Dirix: 'I'm proud of this satue, a statue that unmistakeably shows the class-mark of Jos Dirix Sculptures’. 

Tour
The equestrian statue of Philips de Montmorency, Count of Horn, Lord of Weert, 2,60 meters high and  1000 kilos in weight, was handed over by Jos Dirix to the Equestrian Statue of Philips de Montmorency  Foundation at the Jos Boerekamps Foundry on the 4^th of December. The statue will be officially unveiled at the beginning of next year in Brussels, where the Count of Horn was decapitated together with his comrade Lamoral, Count of Egmont, 450 years ago.
After that the statue will travel to various cities that were important in his life. Finally the statue will find its place in the forecourt of the former castle of Nijenborgh, that will be converted to the Municipal Park of Weert. With this statue the municipality of Weert makes a lasting connection between the historic nobility of De Montmorency and its hippic ambitions.
Lord Mayor Jos Heijmans is convinced of its long lasting success: 'This statue is an icon!
www.josdirix.art