A Nereid c. 1705 - 1715

Giuseppe Mazzuoli created this sculpture of a Nereid, a sea nymph in ancient Greek folklore, from marble. Look closely at the stone, and you’ll notice its inherent qualities of substance, texture, weight, color and form. Mazzuoli would have roughed out the overall composition using a range of tools, gradually refining the surface towards a high degree of naturalism. Note the contrast between the smooth skin of the figure, the flowing drapery, and the rougher texture of the waves beneath her feet. All that detail is extracted from the solid stone through immense labor. Marble carving is an ancient and highly skilled tradition. Though Mazzuoli was a virtuoso, he would have relied on assistants to carry out much of the labor required. In thinking about this sculpture, we can consider the vast gulf between the highly prized result, which could only be afforded by the elite, and the many hours of physical work necessary for its creation. This reminds us that all artworks are the product of a specific social context.