10 Most Incredible Sculptures in Italy

Italy, officially known as the Italian Republic, is in itself a living museum with magnificent masterpieces in its every nook and corner. The Italian art cities rich in decorated churches, monuments, sculptures, paintings, museums, etc. are some of the most-visited international cultural tourist destinations. Owing to the fact that it has several major art galleries, museums, and dwellings of historic importance, Italy has a prime place in the international art scene. Therefore, through this article, we have brought forward for you the 10 most incredible sculptures in Italy.

Sculptures in Italy

1. David by Michelangelo

This magnificent renaissance sculpture, a 14.0 ft marble statue which depicts the Biblical hero David, portrayed as a nude standing male figurine was created circa 1501-1504. People from all over the world gather at the Academia Gallery to witness the perfection of this masterpiece by the world-famous Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet, Michelangelo. This sculpture was originally commissioned for the Cathedral of Florence by the Opera Del Duomo to be installed in the niches of the cathedral’s tribunes as one of the sculptures among the series of large statues that were commissioned. When Michelangelo was put up for the job of sculpting this particular statue, it was merely an unfinished project begun by Agostino di Duccio, that lay neglected within the premises of Opera Del Duomo for almost 25 years. Michelangelo worked tirelessly for a period of over two years to create one of the most marvellous sculptures in Italy but in the entire world.

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2. Pieta by Michelangelo

The infamous sculpture Pietà is a representation of the seated Madonna with her youthful face tilted only slightly over the lifeless body of her son Jesus Christ, whom she is holding in her arms portraying “Vesperbild”. This creation of absolute marvel depicts a lifeless body to its complete perfection. The ‘Pietà’ is the only work of Michelangelo which bears his name. Originally commissioned for the French Cardinal Jean de Bilhères, Michelangelo sculpted this statue of divine beauty in a period of five years during which he stayed in Rome. Ranked among the most incredible sculptures in Italy, tourists from all over the world pour into the Old St. Peter’s Basilica to witness the magnificence of the Pieta.

Image Source: Wikimedia

3. Cristo della Minerva by Michelangelo

This masterpiece by Michelangelo Buonarroti is also known as Christ the Redeemer, Christ Carrying the Cross or the Risen Christ was finished in 1521. One of the most beautiful sculptures in Italy, the Cristo della Minerva is in Rome, in in the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, positioned to the left of the main altar. This sculpture of excellence was originally commissioned by the Roman patrician Metello Vari, in June 1514.

 

Image Source: Andy Rusch (Flickr)

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4. Hercules and Cacus by Bartolommeo Bandinelli

The sculpture of Hercules and Cacus was originally commissioned to Michelangelo by the Republican Government of Florence as a companion piece for David by Michelangelo, to be positioned at the entrance of the Palazzo della Signoria. Almost a decade later, on account of a change of government, the commissioned marble ended up into the hands of Bandinelli which was appropriated by
Pope Clement VII. This sculpture is the perfect pendant to David, the symbol of spiritual strength as here the demi-god Hercules is the symbol of physical strength, significantly juxtaposing the symbolism of David.

 

5. The Crucifix by Michelangelo

The Crucifix, located at the high altar of the Church of Santa Maria del Santo Spirito in Florence is one of the most famous sculptures in Italy. It is made out of polychrome wood and is believed to be a masterpiece of the High Renaissance master Michelangelo. Although there are two crucifix sculptures that are believed to be Michelangelo’s masterpieces, critiques are still not entirely sure about the authenticity of the fact. This sculpture is especially notable as the crucifix depicts a sculpture of a nude Jesus, fulfilling Psalm 22:18. These crucifixes are believed to have been produced during Michelangelo’s youth and finished circa 1492.

 

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6. St. Petronius by Michelangelo

St. Petronius who is the subject of this famous sculpture by Michelangelo was a bishop of Bologna. Sculpted between 1494 and 1495 by a young Michelangelo, the statue of St. Petronius was completely carved out of marble and is situated at the Basilica of San Domenico in the city of Bologna. The sculpture of St. Petronius measures 64cm in height, accompanied by a base at the bottom. Michelangelo’s St. Petronius is regarded as one of the finest specimens of kinetic art which depicts motion depending on the stance of the viewer. Although not Michelangelo’s most famous creation, the sculpture of St. Petronius sure is a masterpiece in itself which like most other works of Michelangelo, knits and depicts an interesting story around the character.

Image Source: Carlo Raso (Flickr)

7. Moses by Michelangelo

Housed in the church of San Pietro located in the city of Vincoli in Rome is yet another brilliant sculpture sculpted by the High Renaissance Master Michelangelo Buonarroti. Ranked among the finest sculptures in Italy, it was commissioned by Pope Julius II in the year 1015 for his tomb, to depict his larger than life personality and reputation. The sculpture depicts the biblical figure Moses, which is based on a description in chapter 34 of Exodus in the Vulgate, with horns on his head. It was the Latin translation of the Bible used at that time. This was an important creation in Michelangelo’s career as this tomb was his first architectural project. Although originally, Michelangelo thought this out as a three-tiered structure jutting out from a wall in the St. Peter’s Basilica but then the scale of the tomb was reduced greatly upon the death of Pope Julius II.

Image Source: Wikimedia

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8. Judith and Holofernes by Donatello

The spectacular bronze piece of Judith and Holofernes was created by Donatello during the near end of his life. This sculpture was one of the few that were completed after Donatello’s return to Florence from Padua between the years 1457-1464. Originally commissioned by the Medici family, Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes was meant to be a pendant to Donatello’s another masterpiece, the bronze David, located in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi garden. Both the statues are free-standing statues depicting characters that are slaying the tyrants. The bronze that went into the statue had to be cast into eleven different phases to be able to create an amazing reflectiveness when the sculptor would be viewed in the sunlight.

Image Source: Wikimedia

9. The Deposition by Michelangelo

This brilliant sculpture carved out of marble by the Italian High Renaissance master Michelangelo is also known as the Bandini Pietà or The Lamentation over the Dead Christ. Worked on by Michelangelo between the years 1547 and 1555, the sculpture portrays four figures signifying: the newly taken down dead body of Jesus from the cross, Nicodemus or maybe Joseph of Arimathea, Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary. Located in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo in Florence, this masterpiece by Michelangelo is also known as the Florentine Pieta.

According to Vasari, Michelangelo worked on the Florentine Pietà tirelessly for around 8 years of his life without any commission to amuse his mind and keep his body healthy. Michelangelo later went to attempt to destroy it in a fit of frustration. From there this excellent piece of work found its place into the hands of Francesco Bandini, who restored the work to its current composition by hiring an apprentice sculptor named Tiberio Calcagni. Another interesting fact about this sculpture is that the face of the figure of Nicodemus is believed to be a self-portrait of the Italian High Renaissance master Michelangelo himself.

 

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10. The Dying Gaul

This Ancient Roman marble copy of a lost Hellenistic sculpture also known as The Dying Galatian or The Dying Gladiator is originally believed to be commissioned between 230 and 220 BC by Attalus I of Pergamon was originally executed in bronze. This famous work from antiquity depicts the final moments of a dying gladiator portraying pain in his face as he falls wounded due to a deep wound to the chest. Currently housed at the Capitoline Museums in Rome, this sculpture is considered to be one of the most majestic sculptures in Italy.

 

All of the sculptures mentioned in this list of the ten most incredible sculptures in Italy are a ‘must-visit’ attraction for any lover of art.