Bust of Marcantonio Ruzzini 1554 - 1571

Domenico da Salò likely carved this marble bust of Marcantonio Ruzzini in Italy, sometime in the mid to late 16th century. Look closely at the stone, and you can see its inherent qualities – the cool grey color, the weight of the material, the way the light catches on its surface. Da Salò would have used a range of tools, from pointed chisels to rasps and files, to coax the portrait from a rough-hewn block. The resulting work represents not just Ruzzini, but also the established traditions of stone carving. Consider how much labor was involved, how the maker’s own skill and understanding of the material is invested in the finished product. Sculpture like this reminds us that the art object is only the final result of a long process. In looking at artworks, we can see the skill involved, and appreciate the way that materials, making, and context together contribute to the meaning of a piece.