Marble has long been revered as a medium of artistic expression that is both elegant and durable. From the Ancient Greeks to the Renaissance, marble statues not only adorned public spaces and galleries, but also told stories of history, mythology, and the human spirit. In this blog, we will explore 12 famous marble statues and the stories behind them.
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Venus de Milo
The Venus de Milo was discovered on the Greek island of Milos on April 8, 1820, hence the name Venus de Milo. Although it has undergone several restorations, none of them were successful. It was finally officially collected by the Louvre Museum in 1821 and became one of the most famous exhibits in the museum.
The sculpture is carved from Paros marble, which has a fine texture and soft luster, making it very suitable for carving human figures. The height of the sculpture is 2.02 meters (including the base), showing the elegant posture of the goddess Venus (or Aphrodite).
The armless Venus stands with perfect body proportions, a graceful figure, a handsome face, a naked upper body, a long skirt on the lower body, a neat bun, an S-curve body, and a sideways look to the side.
Despite the loss of both arms, the Venus de Milo is still considered a perfect work of art. The incomplete beauty adds mystery and imagination to the work and has a profound impact on the concept of aesthetics later on.
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Discobolus
The original work of the Discobolus was created by the Greek artist Myron in 450 BC. Myron was one of the most famous sculptors in the classical period, famous for his exquisite performance of movement and dynamic postures. The original work was cast in bronze, but it has been lost.
Most of the “Discobolus” we see today are marble replicas from the Roman period. The most famous of them are “Lancellotti Discobolus” and “Townley Discobolus”, which are collected in the National Museum of Rome and the British Museum respectively.
The Discobolus shows the instantaneous movement of a young athlete when throwing a discus. He is naked, standing on his side, with one hand next to his leg and the other holding the discus, ready to throw the discus at any time. The sculpture shows a dynamic beauty in a static posture, and with the strong muscles on the body show the athlete’s strong physique vividly.
The Discobolus is regarded as a symbol of the ancient Greek sports spirit, showing the ideal pursuit of human beauty by the ancient Greeks, and has influenced the understanding and expression of beauty in later generations.
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Belvedere Torso
Belvedere Torso is a marble torso sculpture from the ancient Roman period. It is believed to be a work from the 1st century BC. The sculpture was discovered in ruins near Rome in the 15th century and was originally stored in the Cortile del Belvedere of the Vatican Papal Palace, hence the name “Belvedere Torso”.
The Belvedere Torso shows the upper body of a strong male nude, with strong muscle tension and dynamics. The sculptor captured the contraction and relaxation of each muscle through the detailed depiction of the muscles, making the statue look full of strength and vitality. In particular, the muscle groups in the back and abdomen appear particularly tight, as if preparing for some kind of intense action.
The Belvedere Torso inherits the classical ideals of the ancient Greek and Roman periods, showing the pursuit of human beauty and the praise of sportsmanship. The creations of later artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci were inspired by this sculpture.
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Augustus of Prima Porta
The sculpture of Augustus of Prima Porta is a 2.04-meter-high white marble sculpture depicting Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire. It was discovered in 1863 in Villa Livia in Prima Porta, a suburb near Rome. The villa was once the residence of Augustus’ wife Livia (Livia Drusilla), so the sculpture was named “Augustus of Prima Porta”. According to archaeologists, the sculpture was created around the beginning of the 1st century AD. It is now collected in the Vatican Museum.
Augustus is wearing a short-sleeved Roman military uniform, with one hand pointing forward and the other hand on his clothes, with a serious expression, as if he is giving orders. There is a little Cupid at his feet, riding on a dolphin, just at the height of Augustus’ knees.
“Augustus of Prima Porta” is not only a portrait of Augustus himself but also a symbol of the Roman Empire. It also provides important information for later historical research.
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The Veiled Virgin by Giovanni Strazza
Giovanni Strazza was an Italian sculptor who created the world-famous bust of the Veiled Virgin Mary in Carrara marble. The sculpture was probably created in the 1850s. It was presented by Bishop Muroc to Mother Mary Magdalene O’Shaughnessy, the abbess of the Convent of the Presentation of Our Lady, in 1862. Since then, the bust has been kept by the nuns of the Presentation of Our Lady in Piazza della Signoria.
The sculpture was originally made as a tombstone for a young woman named Maria Agnese. Maria died of illness at the age of 23, and her family commissioned Strazza to create a memorial statue for her. Strazza chose the theme of the Veiled Virgin to express respect and mourning for the deceased.
The Veiled Virgin depicts a saint girl covered by a veil. Below is a marble base. Although separated by the veil, the facial expression of the Virgin Mary and the shape of her hair can still be clearly seen, and her elegance and tranquility can be felt.
The Veiled Virgin is a commemoration of the passing one and also shows a profound thinking on life, death, aesthetics, and religion.
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David Sculpture
Michelangelo’s David sculpture was created between 1501 and 1504. It is made of white marble and shows the naked image of King David, a Jewish hero in the Bible. It is 5.17 meters tall and is one of the largest marble sculptures in the world. The original is placed in the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy.
David stands with a focused expression, frowning brows, and staring into the distance as if he is carefully observing his enemy. The sculpture is exquisitely detailed, and the muscle lines and joints on David are very realistic.
“David” is a reproduction of the biblical story, embodying the humanistic thought of the Renaissance, emphasizing the value and dignity of the individual, and is one of the most influential sculptures in the history of Western art.
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The Rape of Proserpina
The Rape of Proserpina was created by Italian Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1621 and 1622. This sculpture is based on a story in Roman mythology, telling the story of how Pluto, the god of the underworld, kidnapped the beautiful goddess Proserpina and took her to the underworld to become the queen of the underworld.
Bernini showed the moment when Pluto kidnapped Proserpina through a strong dynamic posture. Pluto’s body showed a forward-rushing posture, and his arms tightly hugged Proserpina, as if he was dragging her to the underworld. Proserpina tried to break free, her body slightly leaned back, and her hands pushed Pluto away with force, her expression full of fear and despair. Pluto’s muscles were tight and powerful, showing his strength and determination, while Proserpina’s body appeared soft and fragile, expressing her helplessness and struggle.
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Michelangelo’s Pieta
The Pieta is a marble sculpture created by Michelangelo for St. Peter’s Basilica between 1498 and 1499. It is one of his early masterpieces and the only one he signed. Michelangelo was only 23 years old at the time, but he had already demonstrated outstanding artistic talent. The Pieta depicts the scene of the Virgin Mary holding the body of Jesus Christ in grief after he was crucified.
Michelangelo’s Pieta uses a relatively static composition but conveys a strong emotional impact through delicate emotional expression. The Virgin Mary sits on a chair with her legs parted, holding the body of Christ in her arms. Although her expression is calm, her eyes reveal deep grief and helplessness. The body of Christ lies on her lap, with his limbs stretched out, as if he had just been taken off the cross, and looks particularly peaceful.
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Laocoön and His Sons
Laocoon and His Sons is a marble sculpture from the ancient Greek period, and the original work was probably created around the 1st century BC. The specific author of the sculpture is no longer known, but it is generally believed that it was completed by three sculptors Rhodes, Agesander, Polydorus, and Athendorus.
This sculpture is based on the story of the Trojan War in ancient Greek mythology. Laocoön was a priest of Troy. He warned the Trojans not to accept the Greeks’ gift of the wooden horse but was punished by the gods. Athena sent two huge sea snakes to entangle Laocoön and his two sons and bite them to death. This scene shows the powerlessness and despair of humans in the face of the anger of the gods.
Laocoön and His Sons show the extreme pain and struggle of Laocoön and his two sons when they were entangled by the sea snakes. Laocoön’s body was violently twisted, his arms were trying hard to resist the attack of the sea snake, and his expression was full of pain and despair. His head tilted back, his mouth opened, as if he was making a final cry. The two sons were in different states of struggle, one trying to break free from the sea snake, the other already bitten, his expression looking even more desperate.
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Farnese Hercules
The Farnese Hercules is a marble sculpture from the Roman period, the original of which was probably created around the 2nd century AD. It is a replica of a bronze sculpture by the Hellenistic sculptor Lysippos. The sculpture was originally housed in the Palazzo Farnese in Rome, hence the name “The Farnese Hercules”. In 1734, it was moved to the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, where it became one of the museum’s most important exhibits.
Hercules is one of the most famous heroes in ancient Greek mythology, known for completing the twelve labors. This sculpture shows Hercules resting against a pillar exhausted, leaning on a stick with one hand and holding apples behind his back with the other hand, after completing his last labor.
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Medici Venus
The Medici Venus is a marble replica of an ancient Roman statue. It is a 1.53-meter-tall Greek-style marble sculpture depicting the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. The sculpture was originally housed in the Medici family palace in Florence, hence the name “Medici Venus”. It is one of the important models for artists to learn and imitate during the Renaissance.
The Medici Venus was moved to the Uffizi Gallery in the early 17th century, where it has been exhibited ever since. It is considered one of the most famous Venus statues in ancient times, showing the image of Venus/Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. In the sculpture, the goddess Aphrodite covers her chest with one hand and her lower body with the other hand, with her head tilted to one side, in a very elegant posture.
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Apollo Sauroktonos
Apollo Sauroktonos is a replica of a Roman marble sculpture from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, created by the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles, depicting a naked teenage Apollo standing next to a tree trunk and trying to catch a lizard crawling on the tree. The replicas are collected in the Louvre Museum, the Vatican Museum and the Liverpool National Museum.
In the sculpture, Apollo’s expression is full of curiosity and joy. With one hand leaning on the tree trunk and the other making a grabbing motion, he tilts his head and wears a hairband on his hair, looking very capable. There are faint muscle lines on his abdomen, which can reflect the physical characteristics of a teenager.
These famous marble sculptures are classic in style and have a profound historical background. If you are interested in them and want to place some replicas of these famous sculptures in your home, garden, or museum, you could contact us directly. YouFine factory was established in 1983 and has focused on producing high-quality marble statues for over 40 years. We use natural marble which is hand-carved by artists with more than 30 years of experience, giving you museum-level quality.
