Why Are Marble Sculptures Still Popular in the Modern World?

It perhaps is the works of Greek and Roman Antiquity that come to mind when you first think of marble sculpture. However, the distinct properties of this metamorphic rock have contributed to it transcending the millennia as it still dominates the art scene as one of the leading sculptural mediums today. What is special about this opulent stone that sculptors through the ages have been unable to resist? Why marble sculptures by modern artists like Beppe Borella, in place of carved wood, fired clay, or cast bronze? This blog post travels through time to explore the appeal of marble sculptures.

Why Was Ancient Antiquity So Obsessed with Marble?

From the works of Phidias and Polykleitos, to the Trajan Column and Augustus of Prima Porto, the world of Ancient Antiquity had a wealth of top-notch marble sculptures. Nevertheless, in an art scene dominated by pottery, painting, and architecture, how did marble become the number 1 sculpting medium? 

Marble first took the centerstage in Greece’s Classical period (500 BCE to 323 BCE). Its natural properties presented the opportunity to portray human forms of their Gods in naturalist detail. Thus, this period experienced immense refinement in chiseling techniques, many of which were then exported to Ancient Rome.

Here, sculptors searched for an equal degree of detail to the Greek naturalists. However, the sculptures served some other purpose. Busts and copies of Greek bronzes were thus used to adorn the capitals of columns and represented heroes, emperors, and generals. Marble sculptures were, in various ways, used as a tool to keep up to date with who was in power

In the World of Pop Art Does Marble Sculpture Hold A Place Today.

Following the innovations of the ultra-modern, artists of the 21st century are perpetually reconsidering marble sculptures. Not only does this stone hold an abundance of natural properties it also carries the weight of millennia of history and artistic tradition. The fresh and fashionable sculptors of today have been playing with this. And questioning the conventions of yesteryear in their quest to create truly innovative work.

For example, in the works of Beppe Borella, precious marbles meet Pop Art in their playful, breathtaking, and refined sculptures. And Massimiliano Pelletti tries to maintain his ties to traditional sculpture by using classical molds, while also striving to innovate as he uses unconventional varieties of marble.

The Final Word

Marble has outshone the ages. It has taken unique forms, served different purposes and inspired generations of sculptors in multiple ways. However, the one thing that has remained constant across the millennia, is the marble’s unique ability to appear simultaneously as living and inanimate. The continuing appeal of marble till this age all links back to the stone’s natural qualities. Durable yet soft. Light yet heavy. Stone but still skin. By capitalizing on the natural properties of marble, the new artists have challenged the viewer to reflect upon what sculpture really was. As the present-day sculptors have redefined the uses of marble in their works, the popularity of marble has persisted. However, it has ascended from avant-garde fully transformed.