Famous Fine Art Sculptures

Fine Art Sculptures

If you have ever visited a museum, you’ve probably noticed some of the famous fine art sculptures on display. These works are the result of hard work and dedication and are sure to be remembered for years to come. In this article, you’ll learn more about some of the most well-known sculptures and their creators.

Fine Art Sculptures

Rodin

Auguste Rodin was born in 1840 in a modest Paris family. At age ten, he began drawing. At the age of thirteen, he entered the prestigious Petite Ecole for artists. Here, he learned how to render the human body and use diverse styles. He also learned to use the imagination to depict the human body in motion. When he was seventeen, he applied to the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts. His application was denied three times, but he persevered and eventually made his way to the academy. He eventually graduated and became a sculptor, earning a living designing decorative stonework for public buildings.

Rodin’s sculptures were created in the process of making human figures. He started by modeling the hands, feet, and heads, then assembled, modified, and discarded the pieces until he found the perfect form. His process of creating a sculpture would often take up to a decade. Rodin avoided the traditional vocabulary of allegorical symbols in favor of individual gestures and poses.


Giacometti

Alberto Giacometti’s famous fine art sculptures depict the human form in a unique way. His fascination with ancient Greek sculpture, Cubism, and traditional African art influenced his work. Giacometti’s famous sculpture Spoon Woman was inspired by the ceremonial spoon used in West Africa. While the piece is based on a traditional subject, it reflects the clean aesthetics of a young multidisciplinary artist. It was created while Giacometti and his brother Diego were living in Paris and visited museums.

At age twenty, Giacometti moved to Paris to attend the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere. He studied under the “frantic” sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, who inspired him with his work. The energy of the Paris art scene was a revelation for Giacometti. He began making drawings and sculptures and tried out new techniques to create his unique style.


Calder

Alexander Calder’s works evoke a sense of motion and fluidity. He embraced abstraction and began incorporating kinetic elements into his sculpture. The resulting works, called Mobiles and Stabiles, are unique works of fine art that use wire, wood, and metal. They are highly weighted and sensitive to motion.

Following college, Calder worked in various occupations before focusing on his art. He worked as a draftsman, a map colorist, and a steamboat stoker. He also took evening drawing classes at 42nd Street Public School and later studied at the Arts Students League in New York. He also made friends with many prominent artists and intellectuals including Joan Miro, James Johnson Sweeney, and Marcel Duchamp.


Bourgeois

Bourgeois’s sculptural work is an exploration of the body and the human form. It combines a wide variety of media and abstract form to explore issues of universal balance and gender. She often juxtaposes materials traditionally associated with male and female bodies, including rough, angular materials and soft, biomorphic forms. This exploration of female and male anatomy highlights the intersection between the two.

Louise Bourgeois was born on Christmas Day in 1911 in Paris and began making drawings for her parents’ tapestry restoration business as a child. When her mother died, Louise decided to pursue an education in art and began studying at several art schools, including the Art Students League. She began sculpting in the 1940s and focused first on wood works. Later, she began creating spider sculptures, which have become her signature style.


Nefertiti

One of the most famous pieces of Ancient Egyptian art is the bust of Queen Nefertiti. The statue is over three thousand years old and is a masterpiece of fine art. It depicts a beautiful woman with a long neck, high cheekbones, and a thin, pointed nose. It has been a source of controversy and debate for years, and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful ancient works of art.

This statue, known as the Nefertiti bust, is made of limestone, with an estimated date of 1340 BCE. There are no inscriptions on the bust, but it is easily identifiable. The bust’s distinctive blue flat top crown and missing uraeus are also distinctive features. The limestone core is covered with plaster, which allows for exceptional molding around the face.


Bernini

Gian Lorenzo Bernini, one of the most famous artists of the Baroque period, was an accomplished painter and sculptor who was also a playwright and stage designer. His love of theatre was evident in his sculpted work, which includes elaborate machines and stage sets. Bernini’s art transcended the boundaries of painting, sculpture, and architecture.

During his lifetime, Bernini made a huge impact on Rome’s culture and architecture, and left a mark that very few artists have been able to duplicate. He was an important member of a lineage of great Italian sculptors, including Donatello, Michelangelo, and Canova.

Whether you have fine art sculptures from one of the Master Italian sculptors, or more modern pieces, the experts at Phantom Lighting can configure the perfect system to light your piece just like the museums! Contact us today for a quote.

Phantom Lighting System has the expertise to help you design and install lighting that is perfect for fine art. Phantom Lighting experts can help you find the right lighting solution for your fine art sculptures collection, regardless of what type it is. For a lighting design plan, contact the Phantom Lighting team by calling 800-863-1184. Or fill out our online request form. If you prefer, you can sign up for our monthly Newsletter to keep up-to-date on new product launches, resources and other information.