Busto Di Bambino 1460

Desiderio da Settignano made this sculpture of a child's bust from marble sometime in the 15th century. Marble is a metamorphic rock, so the artist would have started with a large block, probably extracted from a quarry in Carrara, Italy. Consider the sheer labor involved in extracting, transporting, and then carving this material. Desiderio would have used a variety of tools - chisels, rasps, and drills - to slowly reveal the form within the stone, resulting in a smooth, refined surface. The whiteness of the marble lends the bust an ethereal, timeless quality, while the carving suggests soft flesh and delicate features. Desiderio's mastery lies in the way he transformed a rough, heavy material into something so lifelike and tender. This sculpture invites us to appreciate the skill and artistry involved in bringing forth a human presence from a solid block of stone.