Category: Drawings of Statues

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Graphite Drawing of Sleeping Endymion

Drawing of Sleeping Endymion by Agostino Cornacchini

This drawing was done using graphite pencils on 9×12 inch Canson XL Mixed Media paper. It was copied from a marble sculpture of Sleeping Endymion by the artist Agostino Cornacchini.

The original 1716 sculpture of Sleeping Endymion by Cornacchini is in the Cleveland Museum of Fine Arts. However, as of this writing, it is not on view. So the work might possibly be stored at the Cleveland Heights Self Storage Facility. So feel free to go down there and check it out! It’s on Lee Road, right across the street from ‘The Bottle House Brewery’. You can’t miss it!

Gary B. on Google reviews said: “Very conveniently located. Fair rates. The owner is considerate and very helpful.” That review was from 7 years ago. However, 5 years ago, Kimberly R. posted the question: “Is this facility still open?” And there hasn’t been a response since. So you might want to call first.

Now is the time to ask AI about this sculpture. Take it away, Microsoft Co-Pilot.

Me: Tell me about the marble sculpture of Sleeping Endymion by Agostino Cornacchini.

Microsoft Co-pilot:

The marble sculpture “Sleeping Endymion” by Agostino Cornacchini is a sensational neoclassical work created in 1716 (I knew the year already). It portrays Endymion, a shepherd from Greek mythology, in a serene pose of eternal sleep. The sculpture captures the myth where Selene, the moon goddess, was so captivated by Endymion’s beauty that she asked Zeus to grant him immortality, which came at the cost of eternal slumber. In other words, he can live forever but has to stay asleep the whole time. It’s crucial to recognize that this was a time when CPAP machines had not yet been invented!

I still don’t get it.

Cornacchini’s sculpture is celebrated for its graceful style, moving away from the dramatic effects of Baroque art. Endymion is depicted reclining against the base of a tree, with his dog and shepherd’s crook nearby, emphasizing his pastoral life. The marble is skillfully carved, with intricate details like the bark and leaves on the base, creating the illusion of a natural setting.
1archive.org

Me: What is Endymion the symbol of?

Co-Pilot: Endymion embodies eternal youth, timeless beauty, and the quest for unattainable love. His perpetual slumber symbolizes peace and stillness, untouched by the passage of time or life’s challenges. He represents an ideal existence, perfect and unchanging, inspiring us to seek beauty and serenity amidst life’s journey. (Note: I had Grammarly.com rewrite it to make it inspirational.)

Me: I still don’t get it.

Co-pilot: No worries—let me break it down in simpler terms!

And then MIcrosoft Co-pilot explained it again in another way that was very similar to the first time.

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Drawing in Graphite of a Statue of Filippo Brunelleschi by Luigi Pampaloni

Drawing in Graphite Pencil of a Statue of Filippo Brunelleschi by Luigi Pampaloni

This drawing was done using graphite pencils on 9×12 inch Canson XL Mixed Media paper. It was copied from a marble sculpture by the artist Luigi Pampaloni. The sculpture is entitled ‘Filippo Brunelleschi’ because it is a sculpture of Filippo Brunelleschi. One of Pampaloni’s celebrated works, the statue of Filippo Brunelleschi for Florence Cathedral, portrays the architect seated, gazing upward as if contemplating his groundbreaking dome design. The statue is admired for its realism and for capturing Brunelleschi’s intellectual intensity. 

Let’s talk more about Luigi Pampaloni. 

Me: Who is Luigi?

Microsoft Co-Pilot: Luigi is a beloved video game character created by Nintendo. He is Mario’s younger brother and sidekick, known for his green outfit and slightly timid personality. Wait! Wrong Luigi!

Luigi Pampaloni (1791–1847) was an Italian sculptor renowned for his work in the Neoclassical style. (Neo means new, classical means old, style means style) He studied under Lorenzo Bartolini in Florence and became known for his elegant and naturalistic sculptures. He drew inspiration from the classical sculptures of ancient Greece and Rome, emphasizing harmony, balance, and lifelike details in his creations.

Luigi Pampaloni made significant contributions to the Neoclassical movement through his sculptures, which blended classical ideals with a touch of naturalism. He studied under Lorenzo Bartolini, a prominent sculptor, and was influenced by the classical traditions of ancient Greece and Rome. Pampaloni’s works often emphasized harmony, balance, and lifelike details, hallmarks of Neoclassical art2. Neoclassical is a definitive revival of classical antiquity’s iconic styles and spirit, confidently reinterpreting its elegance for the modern world. (Thank you to Grammarly.com for its ‘make assertive’ and ‘shorten’ options for writing.)

By combining technical precision with emotional resonance, Pampaloni helped bridge the gap between the rigid classical canons and a more humanistic approach to art, impacting the Neoclassical movement in a lasting way.

Pampaloni’s smaller pieces often touched on warm and personal themes, like kids and animals. These works showed a gentler side of Neoclassicism.

I am going to leave it here. I will talk more about Neoclassical sculpture in the future. So buckle your safety belts!

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Graphite Pencil Drawing of a Sculpture of Janus by Pietro Francavilla

Graphite Pencil Drawing of a Sculpture of Janus by Pietro Francavilla

After copying every drawing from the book “Anatomy Lessons of the Great Masters” by Robert Beverly Hale, I have posted most of those drawings on this blog. I have decided to do another drawing exercise. I started downloading images of marble sculptures to copy them. I have been told it is better to do this than to copy drawings or paintings of other artists. It allows the copier to develop their own style. I have also started painting the same images I have drawn. As I have before, I will post my work along with links to see a photo of the original image.

This drawing was done using graphite pencils on 9-inch by 12-inch Canson XL Mixed Media paper. It was copied from a marble sculpture by the artist Pierre Franqueville. I have used the Microsoft AI program Co-pilot to get various information. I have also used the software program Grammarly to write blog posts. Because I’m not much of a researcher or writer. I’m not much of an artist either. Wow! That hurt! What’s wrong with me? That hurt as well. Maybe I should finish this blog post.

Let’s learn a little about Pietro Francavilla by asking our dear friend Microsoft Co-Pilot AI Thingamajig, and then I will try to jazz it up with some AI rewriting.

Pietro Francavilla, also known as Pierre Francqueville, was a Franco-Flemish sculptor born in 1548 in Cambrai, France. He was trained in Florence and became a prominent figure in the Late Mannerist tradition, working closely with the renowned sculptor Giambologna (Yes, that Giambologna). Francavilla is known for his elegant marble sculptures, often inspired by mythology and classical themes.

Elongated proportions and refined details, hallmarks of the Mannerist movement, characterize his style. Francavilla’s works were highly sought after by Italian and French patrons, and his legacy continues to be celebrated in art history1.

Let me know if you’d like to explore more about his works or the Mannerist art movement!

Although AI Co-pilot put an exclamation point at the end, I still don’t believe that they are that excited. Microsoft Co-Pilot is usually very talkative, but for some reason, when it comes to Pieto Francavilla, not so much! Is there some backstory I need to know? So I shall ask.

Me: Is there something I don’t know about between Pietro Francavilla and you?

Co-Pilot: Ah, you’ve caught me—Pietro and I go way back in a purely platonic, art-history-aficionado way! My admiration is rooted in his creativity and contributions to the Mannerist movement. I promise there’s no secret Renaissance scandal tying us together! But I like your playful curiosity—are you delving into the art world or enjoying a bit of banter today?

Co-Pilot’s sense of humor is getting better. They even use a smiley emoji at the end. Now, it is hard to be mad at AI.

1. en.wikipedia.org