Marcus Aurelius was successful military commander who was proud of intellectual attainments Equestrian statue saved during Middle Ages because mistaken to be portrait of Constantine, first Christian emperor Horse once raised foot above barbarian Head resembles traditional philosopher portraits from Greek world
The equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius is 4,24 m high and 3,87 m long. The material of use is hollow-cast gilded bronze.[] In the middle of a public square, it stands on a pedestal.
The Statue. Let's get to know this great work of art. Emperor Marcus Aurelius' statue was built sometime around the 170s CE, and is made of gilded bronze.
Horse and rider (detail), Equestrian Sculpture of Marcus Aurelius, bronze, c. 173-76 C.E. (Capitoline Museums, Rome) The horseman sits astride the steed, with his left hand guiding the reins and his right arm raised to shoulder level, the hand outstretched.
Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, c. 173-76 C.E. gilded bronze (Capitoline Museums, Rome).The original location of the sculpture is unknown. Beginning in the 8th century, it was located near the Lateran Palace, until it was placed in the center of the Piazza del Campidoglio in 1538 by Michelangelo.
The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius is an ancient Roman statue in the Campidoglio, Rome, Italy.It is made of bronze and stands 4.24 m tall. Although the emperor is mounted, it exhibits many similarities to standing statues of Augustus.
Horse (detail), Equestrian Sculpture of Marcus Aurelius, c. 173-76 C.E., bronze (Capitoline Museums, Rome) The emperor’s horse is a magnificent example of dynamism captured in the sculptural medium.
Roman Art: Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius The “Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius” was created as propaganda statue for the ruler Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius was a powerful leader and was best known for military conquests and his intellectual knowledge (Stokstad 200). Marcus Aurelius ruled in Rome from 161 to 180 CE.
A comparison between the sculpture and that of Marcus Aurelius' equestrian statue shows how closely Donatello looked to classical art and its themes. In this depiction of Marcus Aurelius, the emperor dwarfs his horse, dominating it by size. However, the emperor also has a facial expression of dominance and determination.
Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius; Roman High Empre 175 AD – Toll of rulership – Hand down → sign of resign – Bigger than horse → bigger than life – Horse = symbol of Rome (powerful, unruly, big) → sheer will can still control (no reigns / hands on)
Material: The material of the statue is then decided by the client. The sculptor may also use a small clay model to better portray his conception of the design. The clay model can be modified to fine tune the client’s wishes.
Mini-Sculpture: Finally, the bronze sculpture artist may finalize the miniature model of the final design in order to give the client a preview into how the final product will look. This model is made using the material decided, and it can be used by the client for marketing purposes so that he can raise funds for the sculpture.
Creating the Backbone: The backbone of the bronze statue, also called the armature consists of a steel frame with foam added to it in order to resemble the rough outline of the final product. This is then sealed with a latex coat to secure it.
The Sculpting: The main work starts only now. Many pounds of hot clay are used and applied by hand to “block in” the design for the first time. The bronze sculpture artist then invests a lot of time adding more clay, removing some clay and molding the clay until the final product finally resembles the required design. Tiny details are added on to give more preciseness to the bronze statue and make it more real.
Remove dust with a damp cloth.
Do not use metal objects or wire brushes to clean the sculpture.
Do not apply abrasives or cleansers that will possibly scratch the finish.
ZUD – Non- Abrasive Cleaner. Use to remove stubborn stains. Zud cleans all metal surfaces including bronze. Zud can be used in powder or liquid form.
Lemon Oil – Apply a small amount of oil with a paintbrush or soft cloth. Cover the entire figure with oil. Wipe the surface gently with a soft cloth to take off the excess oil.
Paste Wax- A very thin, even coat of wax should be applied with a soft cloth. Allow the wax to sit and dry before polishing. Wax should be applied after bronze has been cleaned and dried. Do not apply if using lemon oil.
Do Nothing: Many bronze owners prefer to sit back and enjoy the natural reaction and aging process of their sculpture.
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Ancient Sculpture Gallery is proud to present you with lost wax bronze reproductions of statues and busts from the Egyptian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Asian Oriental, and Western civilizations. “Lost Wax” bronze (or hot-cast bronze) is actually 100% pure Bronze – essentially copper and tin. The making of a “lost wax” bronze is a complex and time consuming process, and specific technical expertise is needed to accomplish the task of making a bronze. The most known and used process for making “lost wax” involves pouring of molten bronze. This is the same method used by the ancient civilizations to create bronze sculptures. Our lost wax bronze sculptures are produced in this same technique.