Title: Romancing the Stone: The Enchanting Beauty of Carrara Marble and Its Influence on Abstract Marble Sculptors

Marble, a natural stone known for its beauty, durability, and lustrous finish, has been a prized material for artists and architects throughout history. One of the most sought-after types of marble is Carrara marble, which is quarried in the Apuan Alps of Tuscany. This enchanting stone has captured the imagination of artists for centuries, including early abstract sculptors such as Constantin Brancusi, Henry Moore, Isamu Noguchi, Barbara Hepworth, and Jean Arp. In this article, we will explore the captivating allure of Carrara marble and its profound impact on these pioneers of abstract sculpture.

Famous Italian artist Michelangelo himself climbed Monte Altissimo in 1517 in search of the finest marble for his sculptures and found the "marble of his dreams" with a "compact grain, homogeneous, crystalline, reminiscent of sugar" according to his own writing (Taylor, 2017). It was this same Statuary Carrara marble that was used to create one of the greatest masterpieces of all time, the statue of David. Carrara marble is prized for its bright white to grey ground color, luminous grains, and subtle yet soft blue-grey veining, formed from the purest limestone. Its beauty is the result of a detailed chemical process that gives it a prized "waxy" finish, ideal for mimicking human likeness (MarmiRossi, n.d.).

Statuary Carrara marble, in particular, is considered the rarest and most valuable in the world, known for its bright, semi-translucent white background and distinctive feathery markings (Carrara Marble Quarries, 2006). While both Statuary and Carrara marble share similar origins and characteristics, Statuary marble is prized for its superior clarity, translucency, and fine veining, making it the preferred choice for creating lifelike sculptures. Carrara marble, on the other hand, is favored for its more subtle veining and is commonly used in architectural applications.

The Pantheon, a Roman temple built in 126 AD, showcases the lasting beauty of marble. Its marble columns and flooring have withstood the test of time, demonstrating the material's enduring strength and timeless appeal. The Pantheon in fact is the oldest building in the world that is still being used today. Marble's durability and elegance make it an ideal medium for sculptures and architectural elements, ensuring their legacy for generations to come.

The natural beauty of Carrara marble has inspired countless artists, including early abstract sculptors such as Brancusi, Moore, Noguchi, Hepworth, and Arp. These artists pushed the boundaries of traditional sculpture, using the unique properties of Carrara marble to create new forms and textures that captured the essence of their artistic vision. The luminosity, purity, and timeless elegance of Carrara marble allowed these artists to experiment with abstraction, giving rise to some of the most iconic and enduring works in the history of art.

Carrara marble's aesthetic quality, character, and finish make it one of the most sought-after materials for artists, sculptors, and architects. Its influence on early abstract sculptors such as Brancusi, Moore, Noguchi, Hepworth, and Arp cannot be overstated. These pioneers of abstraction utilized the enchanting beauty of Carrara marble to create works of art that continue to captivate and inspire, demonstrating the enduring allure of this extraordinary natural stone.

References: 

Taylor, A. (2017, August 03). The Marble of Michelangelo’s Dreams. Retrieved September 1, 2018, from https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/08/the-marble-of-michelangelos-dreams/535836/

MarmiRossi (n.d.). The Carrara Marble: a white marble with history [Blog Post] Retrieved September 4, 2018, from http://www.marmirossi.com/en/news/focus-materials/the-carrara-marble-a-white-marble-with-history

Carrara Marble Quarries. (2006, September 17). Retrieved September 4, 2018, from https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/6936/carrara-marble-quarries

Perales, G. (2017, July 20). A Brief History of the Beautiful Carrara Marble. Retrieved September 4, 2018, from https://marble.com/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-beautiful-carrara-marble-