Carving marble is all about trapping shadows and watching light play across the surface.
Sculptor Simon Smith tells us why marble is “the Emperor of all stones” and “like a slice of the moon,” as he recreates a panel from the 15th-century Prato Pulpit in Italy. The carved pulpit features meter-high dancing cherubs, which Simon copies from photographs—scaling them down to fit his block of marble, while retaining the spirit and joy of Donatello’s original. Watch the shapes appear as Simon uses different chisels and tools to cut and refine the marble, explaining how carving is all about trapping shadows and watching light play across the surface.
