Sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture
Early Forms of
Sculpture
Sculpture has been used as a form
of human expression since
prehistoric times. The earliest
known works of sculpture date from
around 32,000 B.C. Early man
created utilitarian objects that were
decorated with sculptural forms.
Ancient peoples also created small
animal and human figures carved in
bone, ivory, or stone for possible
spiritual or religious purposes.
Traditions of carving and casting emerged from the
White marble, which evoked ancient sculpture, became the preferred material
of the Neoclassical sculptor. In the 18th century there was a widely held,
though erroneous, belief that people living in ancient times preferred this
aesthetically pure material for their sculptural works. In fact, Classical
marble sculpture was typically covered in brightly hued paint, which, due to
weathering, had largely disappeared from the excavated works. Bronze was
also often used in ancient times for large-scale sculpture. While a few
examples of Classical bronze sculptures were known in the 18th century, the
great majority of ancient works in this medium had been melted down for
more practical applications after the fall of Rome. Most of the sculptures
entering the great collections of Europe were marble; therefore, people living
in the 18th century primarily associated marble with the ancient world.
Modern and Contemporary
Sculpture