The moment we utter the word sculpture we see some statues or stone figures in front of our eyes. Sculpture is one of the oldest forms of art which was invented in the prehistoric times and is still practiced widely by the people all over the world. Sculpture is a wonderful form of art and is actually the process of giving a three dimensional shape to block of stone or a piece of metal or wood. There are several places all over the world, specially in European countries whet you would get see some of the greatest specimens of stone and metal sculptures. Once you see the sculptures it would surely become difficult for you to believe that a block of stone or a piece of metal can be converted into such a wonderful thing.
Speaking about sculpture it must be mentioned here that apart from carving stone blocks there are different ways of creating sculptures. A sculpture can be created by heating and molding pieces of metals and some sculptures are also created by assembling different things. The person who creates sculpture is called a sculptor and over the ages several great sculptors have born on the earth and have created some of the greatest specimens of stone and metal sculptures. David created by Michelangelo is one of the greatest specimens of stone sculptures ever created in this world.
However, apart from European countries you would get to see innumerable stone and metal sculpture in all parts of the world that were created thousands and thousands of years ago. Most of the ancient stone and metal sculptures are generally seen in religious places in the shape of Gods and Goddesses. Countries located in Southern and Southeastern part of Asia have got large collection of stone sculptures in the temples and other religious places. These sculptures are not only specimens of great men by ancient sculptors but these things also introduce people to the sense of art and craft among the people of particular region in the past.
Apart from stone and metal sculpture you would also get to see great pieces of sculpture on marble, ivory, porphyry, silver, gold, jade and several specimens of chryselephantine works. |
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Specimens of sculpture on oak, boxwood, linden and ceramics are also available in different museums across the world. Ceramic and glass sculptures are perhaps the most wonderful creations and are still practized by large number of sculptors across the world.
A polychrone wood-carved statue of Guan Yin, in the Shanxi province of China is one of the the greatest specimens of ancient sculpture. This sculpture dates back to 10,000 BC. Apart from that you would also find several Buddhist sculptures in China which include wooden Bodhisattva dating back to Song Dynasty and some Buddha statues that are combination of Chinese and Indian sculpture. Ancient sculptures are available in large numbers in India too. Several sculptures that date back to the days of Indus valley Civilization, the temple curving in the Hindu, Buddha and jain shrines, the cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora in Aurungabad, the Nepalese polychrome wooden statue dating back to Malla Kingdom are some of the greatest specimens of historic sculptures in India.
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