Abel Monument, Royal Palace Park, Oslo

The Abel Monument in the Royal Palace Park, Oslo honours Niels Henrik Abel, the Norwegian mathematician, with a bronze sculpture standing on a small mound in front of the Royal Palace. It is the work of Gustav Vigeland, the sculptor behind Oslo's famous sculpture park, and it sits in a green corner of the city centre, a short stroll from the park's paths.

Who was Niels Henrik Abel?

Abel (1802-1829) is one of Norway's greatest mathematicians. He lived only a short life, yet he managed to show that the general fifth-degree equation cannot be solved using radicals. Today his name lives on in the Abel Prize, awarded since 2002 for outstanding achievements in mathematics.

What does the monument look like?

The bronze stands on a rise known as Abelhaugen. Instead of a conventional portrait of a scholar with a book or compass, Vigeland chose movement and energy. The Vigeland Museum describes the work as conveying the power of the mind through dynamism rather than traditional attributes. A youthful figure strides over two bowed figures, usually read as ignorance or adversity overcome. With its base, the monument is roughly 12 metres tall.

Not everyone was convinced. The German mathematician Felix Klein described a young athlete striding over two victims and thought the design would disappoint anyone who knew Abel's character. Despite that criticism, the sculpture is regarded as Vigeland's breakthrough and led to further major commissions.

When was it unveiled?

Sources disagree on the year. Most give 1908, while the Vigeland Museum's text points to 1911. It is safest to say the monument was unveiled in the early twentieth century.

Why visit?

• It links two stories: the history of science and the art of Vigeland, making it a natural stop before visiting Vigeland Park.
• It lies in the Palace Park in the city centre, so it fits easily into a walk around the Royal Palace.
• Each year a wreath-laying ceremony connected with the Abel Prize takes place at the monument.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the Abel Monument in Oslo? Gustav Vigeland, the Norwegian sculptor.

Where exactly is it? In the Palace Park, on the Abelhaugen mound in front of the Royal Palace in Oslo.

Is there an entrance fee? The monument stands in a public park, so you can see it during a walk.

What do the figures at Abel's feet represent? Two bowed figures, traditionally interpreted as obstacles overcome. Vigeland aimed to show the power of the mind in motion rather than a literal account of the mathematician's life.

Is this Vigeland's only sculpture in Oslo? No. His best-known work is the sculpture park, which is well worth seeing on the same visit.

Visiting tip

Come during the day, when the park is full of walkers and the sculpture can be seen from several sides. The best view is from the path below, where you can see the figure rising above the bowed forms.