Giant spider takes up residence at Tate

Maman is made of bronze, stainless steel and marble. One of a series of six giant spiders made in the 1990s, the Maman works are the largest group of spider sculptures ever made by Bourgeois. Photograph: Felix Clay/freelance

A female spider, this spectacular arachnid alludes to the strength of the mother with metaphors of spinning, weaving, nurture and protection. Photograph: Felix Clay/freelance

According to Bourgeois: 'The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver ... (she) was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother. ' Photograph: Felix Clay/freelance

Here we are given a feel of the sheer size of the sculpture. In the background, St Paul's Cathedral looks on. Photograph: Felix Clay/freelance

A crane very carefully drops the enormous sculpture into place. Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

Bronze casts of Maman are on permanent display at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the Samsung Museum of Art in Seoul, Korea, the Mori Art Center in Tokyo, Japan and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Photograph: Nathan Strange/AP