Editing Statue (section)

{{short description|Sculpture primarily concerned as a representational figure}}
{{Other uses|Statue (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Statute}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
[[File:Statue of Unity.jpg|thumb|''[[Statue of Unity]]'' (2018), the [[List of tallest statues|world's tallest statue]], in [[Gujarat]], India]]
[[File:Palais du Luxembourg (43029205090).jpg|thumb|19th-century statues of illustrious Frenchmen in the hemicycle of the [[Senate (France)|Senate of France]] in Paris]]
[[File:Hermes and the infant Dionysus by Praxiteles.jpg|thumb|''[[Hermes and the Infant Dionysus]]'' by [[Praxiteles]], a 4th century BC statue now housed at the [[Archaeological Museum of Olympia]] in Greece]]
A '''statue''' is a free-standing [[sculpture]] in which the realistic, full-length figures of persons or animals are carved or [[Casting (metalworking)|cast]] in a durable material such as wood, metal or stone.  Typical statues are life-sized or close to life-size. A sculpture that represents persons or animals in full figure, but that is small enough to lift and carry is a ''statuette'' or [[figurine]], whilst those that are more than twice life-size are regarded as ''[[:Category:colossal statues|colossal statues]]''.<ref>[https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/colossal Collins online dictionary]: Colossal "2. (in figure sculpture) approximately twice life-size."; [http://www.getty.edu/vow/AATFullDisplay?find=colossal&logic=AND&note=&english=N&prev_page=1&subjectid=300047453 entry in the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus® Online]</ref>

Statues have been produced in many cultures from [[prehistory]] to the present; the oldest-known statue dating to about 30,000 years ago. Statues represent many different people and animals, real and mythical. Many statues are placed in public places as [[public art]]. The world's tallest statue, ''[[Statue of Unity]]'', is {{convert|182|m}} tall and is located near the [[Narmada dam]] in [[Gujarat]], India.