The Sculptor's Funeral

Today we explore the work of the Renaissance masters Niccolo dell'Arca, Guido Mazzoni, and Antonio Begarelli. Never heard of them? You're not alone. Although their work deserves to be ranked alongside their contemporaries Donatello and Verrocchio and yes, even Michelangelo, these sculptors had the misfortune of living on the other side of the mountains from Florence, in Bologna and Modena, far from the marble quarries, far from the Medici. But sculpture finds a way: beyond the influence of Florence, a rich tradition of large scale terracotta figure sculpture developed over several generations, culminating in some of the most elaborate and daring sculpture you've never seen.

Exploring the enigmatic chapel of the Princes of San Severo, Host Jason Arkles lifts the veil of secrecy surrounding the fabulous works therein, including Corradini's Modesty, Quierolo's Freedom from Illusion, and Sanmartino's Veiled Christ. Secret handshakes and initiation rituals optional.

Lavinia Ream (but call her Vinnie!) was, despite the odds, a sculptor. Born into a working class family and growing up in a nation at war, in a time and place which scarcely imagined the existence of 'lady-sculptors', she catapulted herself into the international spotlight and into artistic success while still a teenager. One might say her methods were unorthodox - scandalous, even! - but when playing a rigged game, you do what you need to do to win.

The Sculptor's Funeral Podcast is back with a look into a group of Michelangelo's sculptures collectively known as the Pietàs. Your affable host Jason answrs your burning questions about these mother-son groupings: Why is Mary so big? Is there really a self-portrait of Michelangelo in one of these Pietàs? And - what is a Pietà?

Meet one of the most enigmatic and anachronistic sculptors in history - Franz Messerschmidt. His work looks modern, but that's a few centuries off the mark! He's not what you would expect from a sculptor from the Rococo period... So what gives? Why were these strange heads made? Learn the startling answer here.