Actually James...I love what you wrote towards the end of this Substack about how private struggle is never private and what can happen when it finds its way out into this world. Will it be used for good or evil. I keep pondering on the words you wrote in the last two paragraphs.
The Veiled Virgin was my first thought, but all of these are truly breathtaking. Thank you for this lovely theme. I didn't know how starved I am for real art.
The artistry defies what seems like what should be humanly possible. These masters were on a higher level with their craft. Thank you, James, for the photos and your descriptions and storytelling. WOW.
I’m fighting it every single day…every single step he takes. There are many fighters but they are hidden, probably out of choice. One day they will all come out. I hope before it is too late.
Marble sculptures have always intrigued me. The pieces you have chosen to highlight are so perfect! The veil and the water are most impressive. I wish I could observe a master sculptor as he creates the vision in his head and transforms the marble into such realistic beauty. The process itself must be amazing to watch. Thanks, James, for taking this art to a whole new level.
I’m so curious if any sculpture with this skill and vision is being created today, in the 21st Century. The skill it would require is to not experience time as it is being presented to us today. The breathing would have to slow down, the eyes to gaze, and enough hesitation in movement to not strike the marble with anything less than precise intention. Are such humans still here on earth?
Under the sculptor’s chisels, these marbles become veils, light, wind, trickling waters. Under the power of your writing, the tension builds to a crescendo; the statues begin to move, to suffer, to…devour, to fight to the death to free themselves, to separate their human condition, their individuality, from the burning magma in the athanor of evil. Frightning and deeply moving. A complete different take on Art. James, I’m an an old school reader. Can I find all those incredible stunning texts in books, your books?
I have seen a veilled lady and although not the one you featured it was still mesmerising. You just can’t imagine where the sculptor started. Such beauty in such despair. Thank you so much for sharing James
These are masterpieces that we should all know and admire, and cherish, since today we will hardly be able to admire anything similar. The ingenious technique used by those sculptors, authors of these marvelous masterpieces, in reproducing details and objects from reality on marble, is nothing short of astonishing, considering that they only possessed rudimentary tools. However, on the other hand, they were possessed by the fire of genius, which stimulated them to create, to find a way to reproduce even the impossible, thus leaving their unsurpassed artistic imprint on the world forever.
Each of these works of art was new to me. Gould's Wind and his story are incredible. He was not a product of the Renaissance but a man ruined by the Civil War. How incredible. I enjoyed seeing and learning about all of these statutes. Thanks.
Your writing is as beautiful as the pieces. I docent in a museum and write articles about art. I never tire of learning more about the arts. Thank you.
Actually James...I love what you wrote towards the end of this Substack about how private struggle is never private and what can happen when it finds its way out into this world. Will it be used for good or evil. I keep pondering on the words you wrote in the last two paragraphs.
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."
The Veiled Virgin was my first thought, but all of these are truly breathtaking. Thank you for this lovely theme. I didn't know how starved I am for real art.
I am truly at a loss for words that could describe my impression and bewilderment in regard to sculptures of this nature. Awesome Thank you. 🙌🫠🥹🥰💟
phenomenal. Thank you for bringing me things I never would’ve known about.
Powerful and very moving for me! Thank you!
🫶
The artistry defies what seems like what should be humanly possible. These masters were on a higher level with their craft. Thank you, James, for the photos and your descriptions and storytelling. WOW.
These are truly beautiful pieces of art, thank you for sharing.
How you left out the Pieta by Michelangelo!
I’m fighting it every single day…every single step he takes. There are many fighters but they are hidden, probably out of choice. One day they will all come out. I hope before it is too late.
Marble sculptures have always intrigued me. The pieces you have chosen to highlight are so perfect! The veil and the water are most impressive. I wish I could observe a master sculptor as he creates the vision in his head and transforms the marble into such realistic beauty. The process itself must be amazing to watch. Thanks, James, for taking this art to a whole new level.
I’m so curious if any sculpture with this skill and vision is being created today, in the 21st Century. The skill it would require is to not experience time as it is being presented to us today. The breathing would have to slow down, the eyes to gaze, and enough hesitation in movement to not strike the marble with anything less than precise intention. Are such humans still here on earth?
Karen, great question !
Thanks, Susie!!
These sculptures are phenomenal. How tall is the woman rising from the water ?
Evil does triumph through the rest of us.
Over and over again . Every choice we allow someone else to make for us.
About 5 feet tall.
I couldn't agree more.
Under the sculptor’s chisels, these marbles become veils, light, wind, trickling waters. Under the power of your writing, the tension builds to a crescendo; the statues begin to move, to suffer, to…devour, to fight to the death to free themselves, to separate their human condition, their individuality, from the burning magma in the athanor of evil. Frightning and deeply moving. A complete different take on Art. James, I’m an an old school reader. Can I find all those incredible stunning texts in books, your books?
I have seen a veilled lady and although not the one you featured it was still mesmerising. You just can’t imagine where the sculptor started. Such beauty in such despair. Thank you so much for sharing James
These are masterpieces that we should all know and admire, and cherish, since today we will hardly be able to admire anything similar. The ingenious technique used by those sculptors, authors of these marvelous masterpieces, in reproducing details and objects from reality on marble, is nothing short of astonishing, considering that they only possessed rudimentary tools. However, on the other hand, they were possessed by the fire of genius, which stimulated them to create, to find a way to reproduce even the impossible, thus leaving their unsurpassed artistic imprint on the world forever.
🩵
Each of these works of art was new to me. Gould's Wind and his story are incredible. He was not a product of the Renaissance but a man ruined by the Civil War. How incredible. I enjoyed seeing and learning about all of these statutes. Thanks.
Your writing is as beautiful as the pieces. I docent in a museum and write articles about art. I never tire of learning more about the arts. Thank you.