Richard Kissling

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Richard Kissling (April 15, 1848 - July 19, 1919) was a Swiss sculptor.

Born in Wolfwil, Switzerland, Kissling went through apprenticeship as a plasterer before moving to Rome for 13 years, studying under the sculptor Ferdinand Schlöth. At the 1883 National Exhibition in Zurich, Kissling showed a portrait bust of the Swiss politician Alfred Escher. As a result, he was given the 1889 commission for Escher's statue in bronze and granite, in front of the Arch at the main train station in Zurich.

Kissling became one of the most widely employed Swiss sculptors for monuments and memorials, although his heroic classical style was increasingly regarded as outdated towards the end of his career.

His other works include:

• the 1892 William Tell Monument in Altdorf, the result of a national competition and probably Kissling's best-known work
• statue of Joachim Vadian in St. Gallen, 1904
• the 1912 Jose Rizal Memorial in Rizal Park, Manila, erected on the very spot where Rizal was executed