Above: Marble bust of Emperor Antoninus
Pius, c.140AD.
Click on any of the images of objects below to see a larger
picture and find out more about it.
Classical and Christian Traditions
The ancient world celebrated civic heroes, revered gods and
goddesses and commemorated the dead in sculptural forms. From the
15th century onwards, the rediscovery of the work of ancient Greece
and Rome inspired artists of the European Renaissance and
after.
Classical stories of gods and goddesses provided rich
inspiration for decorative works. The human form was a constant
subject, with its challenge of bringing an individual to life in
materials such as bronze, stone and marble.
In the Christian tradition works of art, including sculptures,
were a focus for devotion and the illustration of Biblical stories.
Stories for the Old and New Testaments inspired sculptures created
for religious and private settings.
Portraying the Individual
Working in three dimensions, sculptors can capture a good
likeness of an individual. Common in classical times, the portrait
bust became a popular form in European art. It was used to
celebrate beauty, to recognise achievement and to commemorate
individuals. Busts might be commissioned by a group or organisation
in recognition of an individual or as a personal commission by an
artistic patron.
Full-length statues were created for similar purposes and used
particularly to depict children and for significant commemorative
pieces.
This emphasis on the individual is characteristic of the strong
secular and figurative tradition in western European art.
Hindu and Buddhist traditions
Hindu and Buddhist religions both have a strong sculptural
tradition.
In Hinduism the great gods – Vishnu the preserver, Siva (Shiva)
the destroyer, and Brahma the creator – exist in multiple
incarnations alongside a host of lesser gods and goddesses. They
create, look after and destroy the world in an endless cycle. Their
stories and personalities have inspired sculpture ranging from the
large and formal to the small and personal.
Above: 18th-19th century Japanese Buddha.
Photo © Jenni Sophia Fuchs.
In contrast, Buddhist art and sculpture focuses largely on the
portrayal of the Buddha himself, often inspired by the significant
moment of the end of his search for divine enlightenment.
The artistic traditions of both Hinduism and Buddhism emphasise
consistency in their portrayal of the many forms of the divine,
although sculptural works can reflect national and regional
styles.