Borghese Gladiator, after antiquity c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have a tiny plaster relief, "Borghese Gladiator, after antiquity," by the Pichler family. It's incredibly small. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Well, it's a whisper of the past, isn't it? Imagine holding an echo of Roman grandeur in your hand. The Pichlers, breathing life into something ancient, making it new again. What do you feel when you look at it? Editor: It’s like a ghost of a sculpture. There’s a tension between power and fragility. Curator: Exactly! It's about distilling the essence of heroism into something intimate. It’s a reminder that even small things can carry immense stories. Editor: I never thought of it that way! Curator: Art is all about seeing those hidden stories.