Marble, which is a favorite material in both construction and art fields with its solid structure and aesthetic value, has been preferred for the production of many sculptures for thousands of years. In this article, we have compiled for you the major works made of marble and that have left their mark on the history of art.
Let’s briefly get to know the world’s most famous marble sculptures…
David (Michelangelo)
We thought it appropriate to start our list with one of the most important works of the Renaissance. The famous statue of David was made by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504. According to many scholars, the 517 cm high statue depicts the moments before David’s fight scene with Goliath. (This was rare at the time, as other statues of David previously made often included Goliath.) Positioned in a public spot outside the Palace of the Vecchio until 1873, the statue is displayed today at Accademia dell’Arte del Disegno in Florence.
Venus de milo
Venus de Milo – also referred to as the “Venus of Milo” in some Turkish sources – is another famous sculpture that almost everyone can recognize at first sight. Venus, one of the most important works of ancient Greek sculpture, was discovered on the island of Milos in Greece in 1820. It is known that the damaged statue was exhibited with accessories such as earrings and headbands in its original design through the holes on it. The arms of the statue were never found. Its missing pieces made the restoration and interpretation of the statue difficult. Some argue that the statue is Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, while others think its Amphitrite, the goddess of the sea and Poseidon’s wife. Venus de Milo, which has no consensus on whose work it was, is now exhibited in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Laocoön and His Sons
Found in 1506 during excavations in Rome, Laocoön and His Sons is not only one of the most famous marble statues, but also one of the most important antiquities. The work, made in almost real human sizes, depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus being attacked by sea snakes. Laocoön and His Sons, shown as one of the symbols of human suffering in Western art, can be seen in the Vatican today.
The Judgment of Moses
Michelangelo, made the statue of Moses for the tomb of Pope II. Julius. (At that time, it was not unusual for the men of the religion and statesmen to pre-plan their tombs in this way). The magnificent 235 cm × 210 cm statue, made between 1513-1515, can be seen in Rome, San Pietro in Vincoli as a part of the tomb of Pope II. Julius.
Discobolus / Disc Thrower
The disc thrower is a statue made in early classical Greece. The Greek-made bronze original of this famous statue, estimated to have been built between 460 and 450 BC, has been lost. On top of that, various copies made in Rome using marble have survived. One of the most famous of these is Discobolus Palombara, which was discovered in Rome in 1781, dates back to the 1st century and is now on display at the Museo Nazionale Romano (National Roman Museum).
Elgin Marbles
Also known as Parthenon Marbles, these artifacts include marble sculptures, inscriptions, and architectural elements in the Parthenon and other buildings in the Athenian Acropolis. Some of these works, made under the direction of Fidias, the famous sculptor of the time, were brought to England by Count Elgin by sea at the beginning of the 19th century. Elgin claimed that the transfer of the sculptures was the decision of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Greece at the time, but this claim was never proven. It is still debated whether the marbles exhibited in the British Museum in London belong to England or Greece.
Pietà
If we start with Michelangelo and finish the list with himself, one of the artist’s most important works is Pietà. Michelangelo was commissioned by the French Cardinal Jean de Bilhères to make this work. The name of the work means devotion to God and piety. The statue depicting the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Jesus in her arms can be seen today in the Vatican, in St. Peter’s Basilica.
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