Marble is a beautiful stone. It has long been treasured by humans as an artful rock due to the waxy transparency of the stone. Sculptors especially have loved this stone, both because of its tactile similarities to human skin and because it is soft when first quarried, and then hardens over time. In this article we will examine the trajectory of marble and how this fine stone has become available to us in the form of marble Marble Countertops Sarasotais.
1. Columns: Marble columns are very strong. In Ancient Greece, Pentelic marble, a golden-hued, close-grained stone was quarried from Mount Pentelicon in Attica. The Elgin Marbles, which adorned the front of the Parthenono, were Pentelic marble.
2. Ancient Sculpture: The Ancient Greeks used marble for their architecture and bronze for their art. Eventually the quality of these Greek works attracted other cultures. By the time of Roman rule, the Romans had melted the bronze sculptures for the precious metal and had made copies of most of the original works in marble.
3. Renaissance: In the 15th century, the rebirth of classical marble carving led to some of the most famous marble sculptures of all time. Michelangelo’s David and the Pieta are some of the best examples. They were quarried from the hills of Carrara in Tuscany. This Carrara marble is pure white and was Michelangelo’s favorite.
4. The Taj Mahal: Mughal architecture, a combination of Persian, Indian and Islamic styles, is best represented by this building. It’s white marble dome is one of the most widely recognized structures in the world.
5. Baroque and Later: Bernini was genius enough to be called Michelangelo’s successor. He is most famous for his masterfully baroque Apollo and Daphne and another, more active David, with a thin marble slingshot. By the 19th century, marble was the preferred medium of most high sculpture. Rodin’s The Kiss was originally sculpted in marble.
6. Marble Countertops: Today marble is used widely in countertops in kitchens and bathrooms. Vast quarries of marble exist in Georgia, Colorado, and Tennessee and have allowed for many homes to incorporate this prized stone into their kitchen decor. In essence, this decorative stone functions much like the garden sculptures produced for the wealthy in Antiquity. Still a symbol of refinement and class, marble is more accessible today than it has ever been.
As you can see, marble has been used to create some of history’s finest artworks. From Ancient Greece to your kitchen remodeling, marble has always been treasured as a stone for its soft, warm texture. Having a marble countertop is a great way to add a touch of three thousand years of tradition to your home.
