Achilles (1972) Willem Verbon
The nursing home care 'Arkopolis' of the Humanitas foundation, a social organization that takes care of the elderly, is located on Achillesstraat in Schiebroek. In the park at the entrance is the bronze plastic Achilles made by the Rotterdam artist Willem Verbon. The work was made in the percentage scheme for the construction of the care institution in 1972. Verbon has made many works in his realistic style, several of them commissioned or on his own initiative for the public space of Rotterdam. Achilles is an important hero in the Trojan War in Greek mythology and the main character in the book Iliad from Homer. He describes Achilles as the fairest, bravest, strongest, and loftiest of all heroes.
Willem Verbon (Rotterdam, 1921-2003) took classes at the evening academy in the 50s. Immediately after the war, Verbon was commissioned to make a monument in honor of the Royal Air Force. He was offered a postgraduate scholarship by the British government and left for London for a few years. In the early XNUMXs, Verbon returned to Rotterdam, where he moved into a studio in Oranjeboomstraat. Verbon sculpted various statues and monuments for important Rotterdammers and members of the Royal Family. Much of his work can be found in Rotterdam.