Romer 17th century

Editor: So, this marble sculpture is titled "Romer", dating back to the 17th century, though in an ancient style. It's currently located in the SMK in Copenhagen. The texture is incredible, but I wonder about the history of its production. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a potent confluence of labor and material. We are confronted with the immense physical effort required to quarry, transport, and carve marble. How did this material, associated with luxury and power, become accessible to this particular artisan? Was this a commission? And by whom? Editor: That’s interesting! It does raise questions about the patronage system of the time. Was it unusual to use marble? Curator: Exactly. Think about the social implications: Marble, often linked with ruling classes, is transformed by skilled labor. What does it mean that a raw material historically used to broadcast imperial power is here rendering the likeness of perhaps an unknown figure? It challenges any simplistic binary between ‘high’ art and craft; there's undeniable skill here. Editor: So the choice of marble elevates the subject somehow but it simultaneously showcases the artisan's mastery and effort, a tension I hadn't considered. Curator: Precisely. And what about the circulation of the final product, and its place in the art market? It invites us to consider how value is created, not just by artistic talent, but by a complex interplay of material resources, labor, and socio-economic factors. It also invites a more careful examination about consumption as the statue exists today. Editor: I hadn't considered all those elements. Now I'm seeing beyond just a portrait. Thanks. Curator: My pleasure. Art reveals its meaning through the story of its making.