The Basel sculptor Carl Burckhardt (Lindau 1878 - Ligornetto 1923) is considered the father of modern Swiss sculpture. Although he left behind significant sculptures in public spaces and advocated for a renewal of sculpture in Switzerland on a theoretical level, he has received relatively little scholarly attention. This publication accompanies and complements an exhibition at the Museo Vincenzo Vela in Ligornetto, which will later be shown in a modified form at the Kunstmuseum Basel. The aim of the publication is to make the versatile artist, who worked as both a painter and sculptor, accessible to a broader audience. It will closely examine, among other things, his relationship with ancient art and his interest in the sculpture of his time.