Marble is a type of stone that has been carved into sculpture for thousands of years. Many great, early examples of sculpture from antiquity are made from marble, and the stone is also used in architecture. The columns of the Parthenon in Athens, as well as its sculptural decoration, are carved from marble. Marble possesses a slight translucency on its surface, giving it an appearance similar to human flesh. Its texture can vary, depending on the artist’s treatment, from rough-hewn to highly polished. While marble is most recognizable in its iconic white, it occurs naturally in other colors, including pink and black.

Sculpting marble is a reductive process, which means that sculptors start with a large block of stone and chip away at it, typically with an array of chisels, to shape the final work. Renaissance artist Michelangelo, well known for his works in marble such as his David and Pièta, famously stated, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” Marble carving requires a difficult combination of brute strength and incredible delicacy. Marc Quinn is one contemporary artist who creates marble sculptures today. His monumental Alison Lapper Pregnant (2005) sat atop the Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square from 2005 - 2007. This modern application of marble called to mind the storied role of the stone in art history.