Marble statues can be especially beautiful. Michelangelo, considered by many as the best sculptor the world has ever known, stated “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” However, there are many issues that need to be considered before one is ordered. Firstly, there are many different kinds of stone that are typically lumped into the category of “marble.” Limestone, Travertine, Onyx, Granite, and other stones are not technically marble. Secondly, there are many different colors of marbles, each having different properties that can affect the look and longevity of the statue. Historically, white marbles have been used for human figure statues, as they show the most fine detail. However, even in the just the category of “white” marbles, there are dozens of different varieties sourced from many places in the world. Each type of white marble has vastly different qualities and appearances. Some white stones are very hard, and some are very soft. Certainly, for any statue placed outdoors, the harder the stone the better, because soft stones absorb water, can become stained, and are more easily broken. Many companies offer “reconstituted” or “composite” marble. This is not real marble, but only marble dust imbued into fiberglass. These materials do not look like, nor last like, real marble.
Of course, the aim of religious art is to capture the essence of the Divine, especially in facial expressions. Our artists are world-renowned in their ability to carve exquisitely beautiful faces. But it is not just the face that is important. Other aspects, such as body proportions, the pose, and the flowing drape of the garments are equally important to create an awe-inspiring sculpture.
Lastly, the structural design is important, so the statue looks delicate without actually being delicate. No church wants a statue that gets easily broken and needs to be repaired. It is not easy to repair broken marble without it being very noticeable. We always carve a full-scale model from clay so the customer can review it. While in clay it is easy to make revisions. It is only upon final customer approval of the clay model that we proceed to carve the marble block.
