They were created especially for temples and were usually dedicated to a single religious figure. Almost all the divine statues were made using a variety of sizes and materials. They were created in the likeness of humans, sacred animals, and other objects. Many of the statues stood inside and outside the temples.

The Archaic period

Maritime trade connections and commercial contacts between Greece and the Middle East were renewed during the Archaic period. This inspired the sculptors from Greece to start working on monumental sculptures of marble. It was during this era that the Greeks worked on stone for public buildings. 

Three orders of architecture were developed around this time. They were the Doric, the Ionic, and the Corinthian. Some common characteristics can be noticed between these three orders of architecture. They were the use of columns, base, entablature with Architrave frieze, shaft, cornice, and capital. 

It was during the Archaic period that the Greek stone temple began to include a lot of architectural sculptures. The temples had reliefs and friezes on their pediments and metopes. Besides, they had all kinds of statues.

Characteristics of sculpture during the Greek Archaic period

Sculptors in Greece created friezes, reliefs, and statues of different sizes during the Archaic period. They were made mostly with stone, wood, and terracotta. The Greek sculptors also created miniature sculptures made out of bone, ivory, and metal. The free-standing figures of this era have the frontal stance and solid mass quite similar to Egyptian models. 

However, the Greek free-standing figures have more dynamic forms. The best example here would be the ‘Torso of Hera’, which is displayed in the Louvre. The three common statues from the year 620 BCE were ‘kouros’, ‘kore’, and the seated woman. The kouros remained popular until the year 460 BCE. These statues mostly had the characteristics of Egyptian statues. 

They had similar shapes and postures. With time, the appreciation of human anatomy in Greek sculpture improved. The kouros and kore became more true-to-life and appeared less artificial. The Egyptian sculptors still adhered strictly to the design standards laid down by their cultural authorities.

The features of male and female figures

The Greek sculptures during the Archaic period also portrayed local heroes or the gods. It was their belief that the human body was of great importance for an artist. They made no distinction between the sacred and the secular while giving their gods a human form. The plural of ‘kouros’ was ‘kouroi’. The kouroi represented nude, male figures. 

The female statues were called ‘kore’ and the plural form of this word was ‘korai’. The female statue was considered less important in those times. They were shown draped and the Archaic Greek sculptors mostly focused on the pattern of drapery. Ionian sculptors depicted the folds of the loosely draped dress and overmantle. Most of the korai were votive sculptures and stood in sanctuaries as dedications.

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This gave rise to commissions for the new Renaissance-style sculpture. Many sculptors from the northern parts of Italy moved to France to benefit from this new demand. They settled in places such as Paris, Tours, and Fontainebleau. Tours were the first to exhibit the latest influence of the Italian Renaissance. 

Among the most important sculptures created during this period was a relief sculpted by Michel Colombe. It was that of St. George and the Dragon. The relief was sculpted in 1508 for the Chateau de Gaillon’s high altar.

The Franco-Italian style of sculpture

In the 16th century, the Franco-Italian style of sculpture spread rapidly throughout France. This happened especially during the first half of the century. One of the biggest reasons for this was the vigorous support and patronage that it got from Francois I. 

The great chateaux at St Germain, Blois, Fontainebleau, and Chambord were refurbished in the Franco-Italian style. Soon, it was used in the public buildings and private homes in Orleans, Tours, Toulouse and other places. This style of sculpture was also used for creating doorways, choir screens, altarpieces, and stalls in churches. 

During the second half of the 16th century, the influence of Catherine de’ Medici increased. Gothic architecture was no longer dominant in structural forms. This period saw a greater Italian influence over French art.

Renowned sculptors of French Renaissance

Jean Goujon

He ranks among the greatest sculptors of the 16th-century French Renaissance. Much of his works were lost during the French Revolution. The ones that survived revealed a distinctive style. It is more evident in the decorations of Fontaine des Innocents in Paris that he created. 

They are some of the finest examples of grace, delicacy, and sophistication. He is also famous for his decoration of the Louvre Palace. Goujon created the sculptural decoration by collaborating with the architect Pierre Lescot. 

Germain Pilon

He is considered one of the finest French Renaissance sculptors. Pilon produced different types of sculptures using marble, bronze, wood, and terracotta. He was known for his medallist and portrait sculptures. One can find the influences of Fontainebleau school, Italian Mannerism, and Italian Renaissance in his works of sculpture. 

By the mid-16th century, he was providing models for the goldsmiths of Paris. The influences of Renaissance art can also be found in his early works. His popular surviving works include the sculpture of the Tomb of Catherine de Medici and Henry II. Some of the best European art museums have also preserved his sculptures. 

Barthelemy Prieur

He was one of the last Renaissance sculptors of France and a follower of Germain Pilon. Prieur was mostly active during the last three decades of the 16th century. His works mainly focused on portrait busts and funerary monuments. 

The surviving sculptures of this sculptor can be seen in the National Gallery of Art, located in Washington DC. The small bronze statuettes were popularized by his creation of Giambologna. Among the other museums that have housed his surviving sculptures are Ashmolean Museum Oxford and the Louvre.

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Between the 9th and the 15th centuries, the German, Frankish, and Lombard influences were also seen. The Early Renaissance sculpture was characterized by naturalism. One can see the change from a conventional approach to a more realistic and naturalistic treatment in the sculptures.

Methods and materials used

Unlike the Gothic sculpture, the Renaissance sculpture gave lesser prominence to the use of precious metals. Bronze became a favourite metal with the Renaissance sculptors. The reasons were the metal’s ductility, durability, and brilliance. It was first employed while creating reliefs and then used for portrait busts, statues, and minor sculptures. 

Despite its use, bronze casting was faced with certain problems and the early sculptures were not highly polished. This problem was overcome during the 16th century by the High Renaissance sculptors. A significant rise in demand for intricate detail in stone sculpture led to the use of marble. White Carrara marble was a popular choice when it came to sculpting monuments. 

Wings of angels, ornaments of robes, hair, and similar details were gilded. A much cheaper substitute for marble came in the form of terracotta. It was used for pulpits, altarpieces, and fonts. Wooden sculptures were common mostly in the regions covered with forests.

Florentine sculpture

More naturalistic sculptures were created by the sculptors at the end of the 14th century. They were, at the time, working on the Cathedral of Florence. The naturalistic sculptures were created with a combination of classic and Christian themes. Among the top sculptors of this period were Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Nanni di Banco. 

The demand for monuments made of marble and bronze increased during the late 15th century. Sculpted altarpieces, tombs, pulpits, and statues were given to the churches. The secular places were provided with friezes, sculpted doorways, portrait busts, and reliefs.

Sienese sculpture

As different artistic traditions existed in Siena, the Gothic sculpture endured longer in this part of Italy. Among the most distinguished sculptors was Jacopo Della Quercia. His earliest works of sculpture were highly Gothic in character. Later a more classical period arrived and lastly came a more dramatic period. 

The works of Lorenzo Vecchietta largely reflected the Gothic manner of Quercia. Among the other noted Sienese sculptors of this period were Giacomo Cozzarelli and Lorenzo di Mariano. 

Venetian sculpture

The Venetian sculptors were more dominant in the eastern region. In Venice, there was a taste for rich decorative works. They were expected to be less banal than the ones in Milan and more sentimental than those in Florence. Renaissance art in Venice mostly appealed to pleasurable emotions. 

The influence of Venetian sculptors extended to areas like Dalmatia, Verona, Istria, Cesena, and Ravenna. Some of the notable Venetian sculptors were Alessandro Leopardi, Bartolommeo Buon, and Pietro Lombardo.

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These works of art can be found installed in public places or displayed in museums. No matter where these sculptures are, they never fail to grab the attention of passers-by. Here are some of the renowned sculptures that have been admired globally:

1. Statue of Liberty

Many individuals are reminded of this sculpture whenever they think of the United States. The Statue of Liberty is a magnificent neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York City. Its overall height is 93 meters and was created by Richard Morris Hunt and Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. Gold, steel, wrought iron, and copper were the materials used for constructing the statue. 

This world-famous sculpture was a gift to the people of the United States from the people of France. It depicts the Roman goddess Libertas, who holds a torch raised high in her right hand. In her left arm, she holds the ‘tabula ansata’.

2. Christ the Redeemer

If you’ve been to Brazil, you might’ve not missed this famous Brazilian attraction. Christ the Redeemer is located in Rio de Janeiro. It was created by a French sculptor known as Paul Adowski. The statue was constructed by Heitor da Silva Costa and Albert Caquot. The former was a Brazilian engineer and the latter was a French engineer. 

In order to celebrate its 75th anniversary, the authorities constructed a small chapel at the statue’s base. Marriages are also solemnized beneath Christ the Redeemer. This statue features Jesus Christ with open arms as a symbol of peace. It was constructed using soapstone and concrete.

3. David

No discussion of world-renowned art sculptures would be complete without mentioning this work of Michelangelo. David is a prized possession of Italy and Michelangelo’s most famous work of art. It was created in the early 16th century and has a height of 517 meters. 

This marble statue features the Biblical figure, David. It was originally intended to be commissioned as one of the series of statues of prophets. They were to be placed along the east end of Florence Cathedral’s roofline. However, it was placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio instead, in a public square.

4. The Thinker

This sculpture created by Auguste Rodin is iconic in the world of sculptures. It features a nude man in a sitting position with his chin resting on his hand. The statue was initially named ‘The Poet’ as some thought it depicted the poet Dante Alighieri. Later, it was named ‘The Thinker’ by foundry workers. 

The legs and feet of the sculpture were damaged as a result of a terror attack in 1970. It was created in 1881 in bronze and has a height of 1.89 meters. The original marble copy of The Thinker is housed in the Musee Rodin in Paris. The sculpture was shifted to the museum after the death of Auguste Rodin.

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