Marble sculpture techniques

General Info

• Course: Techniques for marble sculpture
• Basic level
• Total duration: 300 hours per year (from October to June)
• Weekly duration: 2 days (4 + 4 hours)
• Number of students: 7/8

Structure and teaching activities of the basic course

Structure and teaching activities of the basic course
In the first phase of the practical / theoretical workshop, the student will begin his journey with the knowledge of marble and the most used stones in sculpture (marble, travertine, granite) through a brief historical introduction of the materials and their main characteristics.
The course will continue with the theoretical knowledge of the work tools: mallet and briquette, subbie, steps, chisels and natural and synthetic stones for the rolling of the same preceded by an introduction about their characteristics and methods of use ranging from ancient tools ( martellina, violin, bear, dot machine) up to contemporary ones (vidiam chisel, pneumatic hammer, flex, compressed air pen, etc.).

The practical / theoretical lessons will include the knowledge of chisels in relation to marble to achieve a good mastery of the same through some practical exercises: striped, marking the edges with the cart, brazilian fixing, chiseling edges, calls, sketching of the plane, finishing and polishing. On the finished surface, one will intervene again with the signature of one or two Roman numerals with subsequent engraving, painting and cleaning of the above with a sharpened brass lamella, abrasive paper and cuttlefish bone.
Completed the work that will lead to the learning of a good mastery of the equipment and the subject, the student will begin the study by exploiting his little experience with the hand engraving of a curved line (S) so much to be able to evaluate, and in the case correct and improve, the mastery of the chisel.

From here begins a second phase of learning that includes the creation of a cassina (recessed or shallow shaped bottom) where to lodge a colored stone, also shaped by hand, of the same shape and size. The latter will then be polished with a technique to be defined at the moment (virgin wax or tin oxide). At this point, acquired a discrete dexterity and mastery of tools, the student will grapple with the dovetail collection, a decoration that we find in the ancient commemorative plaques of the city of Rome.

Completed the previous work to perfection, we will move to the realization of a portion of the frame that will be first drawn on the stone and then sculpted by alternating the two steps (drawing and chiseling) until finishing and polishing with the abrasive stones.
The last exercise, to complete the course, will be the realization of a stone sphere with a diameter of about 10 centimeters which, according to the processing phases, will be sketched by hand and then finished in a spherical recess previously prepared in marble. to give the perfect shape with the aid of a wooden board and various grits of abrasive powder.

Educational material and equipment

– N° 2 SUBBIE

– N° 2 GRADINE

– N° 2 CHISELS

– N° 2 ENGRAVING CHISELS (small and medium)

– N° 2 CARBOURUNDUM (thick grain – fine grain)

– N° 1 MALLET

– N° 1 WORK GLASSES

– N° 1 THICKNESS OF WHITE MARBLE OF CARRARA cm.20x20x8

– N° 1 PENSIL (H1)

– N° 1 RULER

– N° 1 SET SQUARE