The Fleshiness of Bronze

A comparative analysis of bronze replicas versus marble prototypes reveals that material differences do not diminish the artistic quality or fidelity of reproductions. The study highlights how Pietro Cipriani's 18th-century bronze copies of famous Roman marbles, commissioned for Shirburn Castle, were deemed 'the most exact that ever were made' despite significant deviations from their originals. These replicas omitted structural supports and featured modified compositions, yet their smooth finishes and reflective properties accentuated the subjects' forms with remarkable precision. The research contrasts Cipriani's work with earlier bronze copies by Massimiliano Soldani Benzi for Blenheim Palace, illustrating how artistic reinterpretation can enhance rather than detract from the mimesis of ancient prototypes.

Kinney, H. W. (2023). The Fleshiness of Bronze. The Matter of Mimesis, 218–244. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004515413_013