5 sculptures carved to perfection

Leonardo da Vinci famously said, "Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail." In the world of sculpture, this rings especially true. The finest works are defined not just by their overall impact but by the intricate details that bring them to life. Here, we introduce you to our favorite five sculptures that exemplify this mastery, where every detail has been meticulously carved to perfection.

“The Rape of Proserpina” (1621-1622) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini / Galleria Borghese in Rome

“The Rape of Proserpina” (1621-1622) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini / Galleria Borghese in Rome

“David” (1501-1504) by Michelangelo / Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence

“David” (1501-1504) by Michelangelo / Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence

“Modesty” (1752) by Antonio Corradini / Cappella Sansevero in Naples

“Modesty” (1752) by Antonio Corradini / Cappella Sansevero in Naples

“Apollo and Daphne” (1622-1625) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini / Galleria Borghese in Rome

Apollo and Daphne” (1622-1625) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini / Galleria Borghese in Rome

“Laocoön and His Sons” (40-30 BCE) by Agesander, Athenodoros, and Polydorus of Rhodes / Vatican Museums in Vatican

“Laocoön and His Sons” (40-30 BCE) by Agesander, Athenodoros, and Polydorus of Rhodes / Vatican Museums in Vatican

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Fun Facts
Jul 3, 2025
1
 Min. read

How to recognize these 5 Christian martyrs in paintings

Christian martyrs are often remembered through grim attributes that serve as poignant reminders of the agonizing ordeal they endured due to their faith.

1. Saint Laurence

Patron saint of cooks, chefs, and comedians

Burned on a rack

As he endured the excruciating torment of being cooked, the story goes that he turned to his tormentors and calmly uttered:

“I’m done on this side, flip me over”
Francisco de Zurbarán, "Saint Laurence" (1636)
Francisco de Zurbarán, "Saint Laurence" (1636)

2. Saint Sebastian

Patron saint of soldiers, archers, and plague

Shot by arrows

His survival from a rain of arrows did little to sway the Roman emperor who had issued his death sentence. He was then brutally beaten, and his lifeless body cast aside into a sewer.

Tommaso,"Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian" (15th century)
Tommaso,"Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian" (15th century)

3. Saint Catherine

Patron saint of girls, students, philosophers, and craftsmen working with wheels

Breaking wheel

Initially condemned to the breaking wheel, she left onlookers astounded when the wheel disintegrated at her mere touch. As the execution proceeded with a beheading, legend has it that instead of blood, a milk-like substance flowed from her severed neck...

Caravaggio, "Saint Catherine of Alexandria" (1598)
Caravaggio, "Saint Catherine of Alexandria" (1598)

4. Saint Peter Martyr

Patron saint of inquisitors and midwives

Murdered by cleaver

Vengeful Venetian nobles hired his assassins in response to Peter's persecution of heretics.

Pedro Berruguete, "Saint Peter the Martyr" (c. 1493-1499)
Pedro Berruguete, "Saint Peter the Martyr" (c. 1493-1499)

5. Saint Lucy

Patron saint of the blind

Eyes removed

Paschasius commanded his guards to remove her eyes when she prophesied his impending punishment. Another version has Lucy taking her own eyes out in order to discourage a persistent suitor who was captivated by them.

Domenico Beccafumi, "Saint Lucy" (1521)
Domenico Beccafumi, "Saint Lucy" (1521)

Extra

A shared symbol among all martyrs is the palm leaf of victory, reminiscent of what Greek or Roman athletes received upon winning sporting contests. Martyrs are victorious in death, reborn in Heaven.

Spot a palm leaf - Spot a martyr!

Spot a palm leaf - Spot a martyr!

Fun Facts
Jul 8, 2025
1
 Min. read

Nudes with Pubes: Art’s Biggest Controversy

Who knew that a patch of hair covering less than four square inches could spark so much scandal across human history?

Nudity itself has rarely been the issue—it’s that little patch of hair that seems to get everyone talking.

A Brief History of the Bare and the Hairy

In the ancient world, body hair was largely removed. Greek and Roman men might have had some stylised pubic hair in their art, but women? If they appeared nude at all (which was rare), they were usually depicted without a single strand below the neck. Prudish? Perhaps. But by the Middle Ages, a hairless pubis had taken on an entirely different connotation—one tied to prostitution.

To keep things "decent," artists covered up genitals with fig leaves, flowing fabrics, or strategically placed hands. Even classical Greek sculptures, famous for their idealised male physiques, often had their "manhood" modestly veiled. But, of course, there were exceptions. In 1540, German engraver Heinrich Aldegrever gave us a glimpse of Eve with an impressive, centre-parted bush.

Heinrich Aldegrever, Eve with a Stag (c.1540), private collection, drawing
Heinrich Aldegrever, Eve with a Stag (c.1540), private collection

Around the same time, Bronzino’s An Allegory with Venus and Cupid (1545) might be the first Western painting to depict female pubic hair… if you squint hard enough.

Bronzino, An Allegory with Venus and Cupid (c.1545), painting
Bronzino, An Allegory with Venus and Cupid (c.1545)

The Hair Renaissance (or Lack Thereof)

While the Renaissance and Baroque masters mostly kept their nudes bare, artists like Rubens and Rembrandt ensured their figures had at least a wisp of modesty. Then, in 1800, Francisco Goya changed the game with La Maja Desnuda—a nude so unashamed that, yes, you could actually see her pubic hair.

Francisco Goya, La maja desnuda (1795–1800), painting
Francisco Goya, La maja desnuda (1795–1800)

Fast-forward to 1814: Napoleon’s sister commissioned The Sleeper of Naples from Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and, for once, a female nude was painted with the same hairy detail that men had always received. Unfortunately, the painting was lost, and we only have a 1911 study to go by.

Meanwhile, in Japan, artists like Hokusai were already well ahead in the pubic hair department. His shunga (erotic art) often depicted women with full, natural pubes—a stark contrast to the West, where the mere suggestion of such hair was scandalous. In fact, in Japan, it was shaved pubic hair that was linked to prostitution, a cultural association that still lingers today.

The Victorian Era: A Hairy Scandal

The 19th century was a tumultuous time for pubic hair in art. In 1866, Gustave Courbet painted L’Origine du Monde—a bold, unapologetic celebration of the female form in all its hirsute glory. But the world wasn’t ready. The painting was kept hidden for 122 years before finally being publicly displayed in 1988.

Gustave Courbet, L'Origine du monde (1866), painting
Gustave Courbet, L'Origine du monde (1866)

For Victorian-era audiences, the mere sight of pubic hair was considered shocking. Just ask art critic John Ruskin. Legend has it that on his wedding night, he was so horrified by his wife Effie’s natural pubic hair (having only seen hairless statues before) that he fled and never consummated the marriage. The union was annulled a few years later.

The 20th Century: The Return of the Bush (and the Triangle)

By the late 1800s, artists like Van Gogh, Klimt, and Schiele were challenging the norms of beauty and eroticism. Schiele, in particular, painted women in unashamedly provocative poses, complete with wild, untrimmed pubic hair. Klimt’s Nuda Veritas (1899) caused an uproar, while Oskar Kokoschka’s nudes leaned more into the naturalistic than the erotic.

Amedeo Modigliani, Nu couché (1917–18), painting
Amedeo Modigliani, Nu couché (1917–18)

By 1917, the pubic taboo had mostly faded in art. Amedeo Modigliani’s signature elongated figures often included a neatly shaped triangle of hair—perhaps the inspiration for the "Brazilian" trend of today.

Conclusion: Hair Comes and Goes

Throughout history, pubic hair in art has been erased, censored, scandalised, and celebrated. Whether it's hidden behind fig leaves or boldly on display, the way we depict the body reflects cultural attitudes of the time.

So, the next time you see a classical nude, take a closer look—you might just spot a tiny but significant piece of history.

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