| h most cultures have a history of creating bronze | | | | bronze sculptures, it was the ancient Greeks who are |
| sculptures, it was the ancient Greeks who are credited | | | | credited with the first life-size bronze figures. At first |
| with the first life-size bronze figures. At first beating the | | | | beating the bronze into shape and welding pieces |
| bronze into shape and welding pieces together, the | | | | together, the Greeks later refined the bronze sculpture |
| Greeks later refined the bronze sculpture technique by | | | | technique by creating a clay model, lining it with wax |
| creating a clay model, lining it with wax and then a | | | | and then a second layer of clay. Nails were inserted to |
| second layer of clay. The molten bronze was then | | | | brace the model. The molten bronze was then poured |
| poured in, which melted the wax and left a uniform | | | | in, which melted the wax and left a uniform bronze |
| bronze piece in the desired shape. Modern bronze | | | | piece in the desired shape. The clay was then be |
| sculptors have taken the Greek idea of large-size art | | | | chipped away to reveal a hollow, relatively lightweight |
| to new heights, with impressively-sized bronze | | | | statue. This process, called the lost-wax method, is still |
| sculptures. Finished bronze can also be gilded, a | | | | in use today, though a variety of refinements have |
| process known as ormulu. Famous bronze sculptors | | | | been made. |
| through history included Donatello, Jean-Baptiste | | | | For a solid bronze sculpture, wax is used for most of |
| Carpeaux, Giambologna (Giovanni da Bologna) and | | | | the internal portion of the model. Most artists will start |
| Benvenuto Cellini. | | | | with a production model in case the molten process |
| Bronze, an easily molded, durable and visually appealing | | | | fails and the process must be started over again. |
| material, has been utilized by civilized man for more | | | | Modern bronze sculptors have taken the Greek idea |
| than 5,500 years. According to archaeological finds, | | | | of large-size art to new heights, with impressively-sized |
| though bronze was initially used in the making of | | | | bronze sculptures. These are often created in pieces, |
| weapons and household items, it was quickly | | | | transported to the final location and welded on the |
| discovered that the material made unparalleled art. | | | | spot. |
| Archaeological evidence shows that bronze first | | | | Once the desired shape is obtained and the outer |
| appeared in Iran, Iraq and Turkey around 3,500 BCE | | | | layer chipped out, the bronze sculpture is polished. |
| (before the current era), followed by India (3,300 BCE) | | | | Some artists use a patina rubbed on the outside of the |
| and concurrently, China and Europe (about 2,100 BCE). | | | | sculpture, which results in a variety of color and sheen |
| Bronze is an alloy of copper with another material, | | | | level effects. Finished bronze can also be gilded, a |
| usually tin, though other materials, including phosphorous, | | | | process known as ormulu. |
| aluminum or silicon, may also be used. Bronze has the | | | | Famous bronze sculptors through history included |
| unique quality of expanding slightly as it cools. This | | | | Donatello, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Giambologna |
| makes it ideal for pouring into molds, as it "grows" to fill | | | | (Giovanni da Bologna) and Benvenuto Cellini. Bronze |
| in extremely delicate details within the mold, lending a | | | | sculptors of the modern era include Henry Moore, |
| realistic appearance. | | | | Leonard Wells Volk, Harry Webber, Bill Toma and John |
| Though most cultures have a history of creating | | | | W. Mills. |