From Tiny Particles to Giant Sculptures, Marble in Art
When it comes to art and marble, the first image that comes to mind is probably the images of small or large sculptures of ancient Rome and Greece. But the use of this precious stone in art is not limited to antiquity and the people of Greece and Rome. Also, its use has not been limited to sculpture and has reached the architectural space and even today to paint. From Myron and Michelangelo to contemporary artists such as Milena Naef and Matthew Simmonds, everyone was eager to use marble in their work.
Face to face Artist and Marble Slabs
Indeed, marble, with its poetic lines as if they are dancing in a space beyond time and place in a colorful and beautiful background, has attracted the attention of every artist for a long time. So it is not surprising that with all the difficulties of extracting and carving, artists have welcomed it. Along with metals such as bronze, wood, and other tools and materials used in art, marble has its characteristics that knowing these properties can help artists. The first characteristic of marble after its remarkable beauty is its extraordinary durability. This natural material does not rust like metals and is not vulnerable like wood and plaster. But the same resistance makes it difficult for artists too. Carving stone is a difficult task, and it shows the patience of the late artists of the past. In modern times, industrial tools have come to the aid of artists. However to make the job easier, it is better to use freshly extracted stones because marble becomes more rigid over time, making it more challenging to carve.
Aesthetic Use of Marble
But what is important is the artistic use of marble. Apart from sculptures and motifs born with artists’ creative hands and thoughts, today, the marble itself is used as a canvas, in the sense that pieces of this stone are framed and hang the wall like a painting. These beautiful stone canvases are sometimes combined with the creativity of artists with metals and wood to create a perfect frame of nature and human art. Sometimes these canvases are designed by architects the size of a wall, and next to mirrors and other beautiful stones, they beautifully decorate the wall of a hotel, fountain, or the space of a hall. Also, the designs and patterns on the marble have been imitated by painters and abstract style, and paintings like marble have been created many times. Above all, marble dust and calcium carbonate are also used in the craft paint industry. In fact, marble dust is used to make painting colors such as pastels better and more cohesive.
What is clear is that the museums of the world are full of works made of marble, and sculptures such as the Winged Victory of Samothrace to the simple vases and cubes of modern artists have always been impressive.
