A gilded bronze monument of the 170s C.E. that was originally dedicated to the emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, referred to commonly as Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161-180 C.E.), the statue is an important object not only for the study of official Roman portraiture, but also for the consideration of monumental dedications.
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.
History. Classical Bronze Sculpture. Nearly all the ancient civilizations used bronze in their art. One of the best-known examples is The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro (2500 BCE, National Museum, New Delhi), a masterpiece of Indian sculpture from the Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BCE).
Bronze sculpture. Made using the lost wax process. Marcus Aurelius given superhuman grandeur through size, larger than horse itself, conveying awesome power as a god-like emperor.
A statue of a riderless horse is strictly an "equine statue". A full-size equestrian statue is a difficult and expensive object for any culture to produce, and figures have typically been portraits of rulers or, more recently, military commanders.
The 3.52 m high gilded-bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius is one of the most imposing bronze statues surviving from antiquity. It was probably erected between 176-180 CE at an unknown location in Rome.
Years after, in 1997, it was then decided that the original equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius was to be placed in the new Hall of the Capitoline Museums, while the design of the structure was still underway. Aymonino was informed of the decision and was therefore obliged to modify the project accordingly.
An example is the equestrian bronze statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (c.175 CE), whose stance is reworked from the Greek statue "Doryphorus" (440 BCE). See: Greek Sculpture Made Simple . The reason for Rome's cultural inferiority complex remains unclear.
The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius is an ancient Roman statue in the Capitoline Hill, Rome, Italy. It is made of bronze and stands 4.24 m (13.9 ft) tall. Although the emperor is mounted, it exhibits many similarities to standing statues of Augustus.
Typically, large-scale sculpture was cast in several pieces, such as the head, torso, arms, and legs. In the direct process of hollow wax casting, the sculptor first builds up a clay core of the approximate size and shape of the intended statue. With large statues, an armature normally made of iron rods is used to help stabilize this core.
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.
What kind of sculpture is right for me?
We have a tremendous inventory of existing designs and unique items that we have been collecting for many years. After reviewing the website, Contact Us if you are unable to find what you are looking for.
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.