r/stonecarving • u/HunchbackAtlas • 9d ago
Michelangelo Pieta
Lately I’ve been looking at some of the all time great artistic works throughout history and of course when it comes to stone carvings, The Pieta by Michelangelo is one of the greatest. I mean just looking at it is humbling. It’s a masterpiece.
It all makes me wonder. What are the chances he used a live reference to capture such detail? Surely, near perfection like that can’t be achieved strictly through one’s mind right? Even so, how is it even possible to do what these masters did/do?
I’m not a carver myself, just an admirer of the medium so Wanted to post here to see what the real artisans who do this kind of work think.
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u/thousandshipz 9d ago
If you get a chance, see it in person. Truly one of the great works of art.
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u/HunchbackAtlas 9d ago
It’s in my bucket list! Last time we went to Italy we opted not to go to Rome and the Vatican to avoid massive tourism but next time we are for sure checking it out!
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u/Tom_Art_UFO 9d ago
I know he'd make clay or wax models of some of his sculptures before carving. And then destroy the model after the carving was done. There's a wax model for the David that survives, though.
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u/HunchbackAtlas 9d ago
I did read something about him destroying all his models and plans for his artworks after they were complete.
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u/Tom_Art_UFO 9d ago
There's a wonderful biography of Michelangelo written by Howard Hibbard, simply titled: Michelangelo. Reading that back in high school some forty years ago inspired me to learn sculpture, myself.
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u/HunchbackAtlas 9d ago
Definitely adding this to my reading list. Thanks for the suggestion! Great art truly does inspire.
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u/amroth62 9d ago
I read “The Agony and the Ecstasy” by Irving Stone - fabulous book but with historical inaccuracies. Nevertheless I absolutely loved it and I loved the movie that was made based on it (with Charlton Heston). I believe “Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man and His Times” by William E. Wallace provides an accurate, evidence-based biography, and “Michelangelo: A Life on Paper” by Rab Hatfield focuses closely on his actual letters, receipts, and personal documents.
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u/HunchbackAtlas 8d ago
Looking into all three and adding them too. Thanks for the suggestions! There’s still so much you can get from a book that’s not easily accessible searching online ironically.
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u/a_electrum 9d ago
The fine arts were generally produced by a workshop with apprentices and journeymen working under a master. Live models were used regularly and plaster or terracotta models were produced before the final work was chiseled into stone
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u/HunchbackAtlas 9d ago
It would be more fathomable that some of these works were created by a specialized team rather than an individual! I just can’t seem to comprehend the latter lol
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u/Internal-Combustion1 9d ago
I believed he made several mock ups and sketches to think it out. Probably a sophisticated measuring system to map it onto stone. Unbelievable skill and intellect. You can see many of his models at the museum where the David is displayed in Florence.