After completing sculptures of Princess Grace and François Grimaldi, Kees Verkade once again paid tribute to the Princely Family with this work depicting Prince Rainier III. The artist wanted to thank the Builder Prince for welcoming him to the Principality and supporting art, as these commissions h...
After completing sculptures of Princess Grace and François Grimaldi, Kees Verkade once again paid tribute to the Princely Family with this work depicting Prince Rainier III. The artist wanted to thank the Builder Prince for welcoming him to the Principality and supporting art, as these commissions had contributed to his international recognition. Unveiled on 18 November 2013, the day before Monaco’s national day celebrations, by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, accompanied by H.S.H. Princess Charlene, H.R.H. Princess Caroline and H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie, as well as the artist, the sculpture is located on the Rampe Major. During the official unveiling, H.S.H. Prince Albert II invited all those who passed the statue to “pause in fond memory of Our Father, who had such a deep love of our country.”
Kees Verkade, a Dutch national, was born on 12 October 1941 in Haarlem (Netherlands). After secondary school, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, where he graduated with first prize. A resident of the Principality from 1979 onwards, he participated in many joint and solo exhibitions. He was commissioned to create numerous sculptures to decorate official buildings in his native country, and also in Europe, the United States and, of course, the Principality of Monaco, which acquired several of his works. Among the Verkade sculptures to be found in Monaco are: Invitation in the Saint-Martin Gardens; Sport in front of the Louis II Stadium; a bust of Prince Louis de Polignac (the cousin of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince) in Square Beaumarchais; and First Step in front of Princess Grace Hospital. In 1999, a retrospective devoted to the artist was held in Monaco to celebrate his forty years as an artist. That same year, Prince Rainier III awarded him the insignia of the Order of Cultural Merit and Officer of the Order of the Grimaldi. A complete retrospective of his work, titled Circle of Love, was held in 2012. Kees Verkade passed away on 29 December 2020 in Monaco. His final work, Salutifera Unitas, was commissioned by a Dutch foundation to thank the healthcare staff who worked through the coronavirus pandemic.
