Sculpture is a visual art that has been with us since the earliest days of being human. Long before the museums, galleries and curators collected the most famous sculptures.
Even before the Greek and Roman ages and long before Hellenistic antiquity, Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt, there were pre-historic civilisations that clearly had figure artists among them.
In this article, you will find out more about sculpture history and indeed the sculpture artists who made an impact along the way.
As an art form sculpture has come a very long way and traversed many different sculptural styles too.
From religious works, primitive statues by figure artists and prehistoric reliefs to the modern sculpture artists in our midst today, there is much to know about the art form.
Today sculpture within western art includes everything from garden landscapes and works made with paper, snow and glass. From public outdoor works by famous sculptors to abstracts and architectural work, modern and contemporary sculptors are leaving their mark in history.
But which famous sculptors made the transition possible? And which of the most famous sculptures, whether those were from Ancient Greece or by sculpture artists today, are worth knowing about?
Keep reading to find out.
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Anonymous Yet Most Famous Sculptures of the Ancient World
One of the challenges of focusing on the most famous sculptures in history is that back in the Paleolithic age and ancient civilisations, people did not necessarily sign their work!
Even during the days of Roman art and beyond, this was the case.
As a consequence, unlike modern and contemporary sculptors who need recognition for their commercial survival, figure artists of the pre-historic age were unknown.
The Great Sphinx of Giza is a good example, and so is the figurative sculpture of Löwenmensch or the Venus figurines made from ivory or ceramics. Then there are the architectural masterpieces like medieval cathedrals and stone sculptures of the Scandinavians and Scots.
The list goes on, there is also much work by the Greeks and Romans that is unattributed and of course, many of the most famous sculptures in history have been collaborative efforts.
Even though not all of these masterpieces are houses in museums, the works of forgotten figure artists certainly deserve a mention too.
Phidias: One of the Famous Greek Sculpture Artists
One of the earliest named sculpture artists in history is Phidias, the ancient Greek, from Athens who was responsible for designing and constructing some of the most important works in the classical period of 480-430BC.
Best known for his statue of Zeus at Olympia which is one of the most famous sculptures in the world, even though it is sadly now lost. He is also known for a number of other works at the Acropolis, Parthenon, the Propylaea and Athena. Even though all have since been destroyed, it does not detract from their significance.
Phidias is known throughout art circles all over the world as one of the most famous sculptors to guide Greek design.
In a remarkable discovery during the fifties, the workshop of Phidias was discovered to confirm that his masterpieces did indeed exist.
Find out more about world-famous sculptures.
Donatello One of the Renaissance Periods Famous Sculpture Artists
Even though his full name is Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, the sculpture artist who lived from 1386-1466 is also called Donatello.
He was one of the most influential and famous sculptors in history.
During his time, he turned the attention of all Italian sculptors back to the classic principles of ancient Rome and Greece. He was also a founder of the Renaissance movement which changed the course of art history.
As one of the world’s most famous figure artists, he is well known for his Bronze David which is one of the early Renaissance statues to be placed. It depicts a boyish and biblical David with a sword. Donatello is also famous for his bronze statue of Gattamelata in Padova which is considered a masterpiece.
His work may not be famous outside of the art world, he was one of the most important sculpture artists of his day.
Find out more about the basics of sculpture.
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Michelangelo could be at the top of the list of famous sculptors of all time. He lived from 1475-1564, during the height of the Renaissance. Along with da Vinci, Donatello and Raphael, Michelangelo is among the famous sculptors of the Romantic Era. His statue of David makes him one of the most profound figure artists, if not, the most profound, in all history.
It is quite incredible that someone can be that talented, but Michelangelo excelled at just about everything he turned his hands to. Apart from sculpture, he is famous for the Sistine Chapel ceiling which is probably the most breathtaking painting work ever produced.
It makes sense that he was massively significant to the cultural landscape around him. Furthermore, his Statue of Victory had a huge influence on the Mannerist style which followed him.
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Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Bernini who lived between 1598 and 1680 was one of the legendary figure artists during the Baroque era.
Between the 14th and 18th centuries, Italy became the home of the arts. It was the place and time where naturalistic and representational expression using different materials was developed.
Bernini followed in the footsteps of the famous sculptors of the Renaissance and was influential in moving art history into the Baroque period.
His most well-known works include The Rape of Proserpina, Apollo and Daphne and the Ecstasy of Santa Teresa.
Like Michelangelo, his work did not stop with sculpture. Bernini was also a town planner and architect who had a huge influence on the city of Rome.
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Antonio Canova
Canova who lived between 1757 and 1822 was the most famed of neoclassical sculpture artists.
After the Baroque and subsequent Rococo style that took decoration and dynamism to another level, sculpture artists calmed down and returned to the classic roots of Roman and Greek sculpture.
It gave way to nobility, simplicity and naturalism and Antonio Canova was the hero of it. His most famous works include Perseus Triumphant, The Three Graces and Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss.
Auguste Rodin
No discussion about modern and contemporary sculptors is complete without mentioning Auguste Rodin who lived between 1840 and 1917.
Rodin was one of those pioneering artists who struggled with criticism his whole life. He was rejected by art school, not accepted by peers and was seen as unconventional. Yet his struggle is a testament to his originality and it is thanks to him that modernism at the beginning of the 20th century was birthed.
Instead of focusing on religious themes and narratives or classical mythology, Rodin’s work was impressionistic and less polished in its finish. He removed the typical statue pose from its pedestal and opened the door to innovation and more subversive work.
You can find examples of his work in some of the best sculpture collections throughout the world.
Constantin Brancusi
Brancusi who lived from 1876 until 1957 was one of the most influential modern and contemporary sculptors in history. He was one of Rodin’s students, but like James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, he found instruction by the genius a little stifling.
After leaving Rodin’s studio Brancusi made a career in sculpture and quickly established a recognisable style. Abstract in style, his work was a departure from the figure artists who preceded him. Instead, his focus was on form and simplicity of shape.
Rodin’s famous works include the Sleeping Muse and The Kiss while Endless Column is considered one of the most famous sculptures of the outdoors.
Pablo Picasso
Needing no introduction, Picasso (1881-1973) is one of the most famous painting and sculpture artists of all time. Most people would have no trouble identifying his very distinct style which became known as Cubism.
Even though he is primarily known for his painting, he was also amongst the most famed modern and contemporary sculptors of our time. In both mediums, he maintained his style.
Picasso is also known for pioneering the art form assemblage, which is a 3D collage made up of collected objects.
Robert Smithson
No article about modern and contemporary sculptors would be complete without the mention of Smithson (1938-1973) who created sculpture art from the land.
During the 20th century, the limits of what sculpture could be, burst wide open inviting an innovation of styles, themes and media.
Smithson joined the ranks of radical inventors and is famous for his work called Spiral Jetty, constructed in the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
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