Gaetano Giulio Zumbo (1656-1701) was a wax sculptor with an obsession with anatomy and corruption. He is best known for his anatomical models laying in the LA SPECOLA section of the Museum of Natural History in Florence, Italy, but he also created a series of momento mori tableau for his patron the Grand Duke of Tuscany focused on the stages of decomposition of the human body. He also created pieces focused on death by plague and syphilis. By today’s standards, his work is morbid and horrifically beautiful, but perhaps death was a much more familiar face in the 17th century than it is now. Check out a selection of his work below…
A.66-1938
Relief
A Damned Soul; Wax relief, in the style of Gaetano Giulio Zumbo, Italy, ca. 1670-1700.
Gaetano Giulio Zumbo (1656-1701), style of
Italy
Ca. 1700
Wax, on painted copper
Gally Sheedy
June 24, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Robert Fortner this made me think of your paintings 🙂 hope all is well
Robert Fortner
June 24, 2015 at 7:12 pm
I love it
Shauntay Ramsey
June 24, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Guy DeCataldo
Ramilton Hobert
June 24, 2015 at 6:17 pm
Awesome. I’ve seen these in person. The one of the man’s head has a note next to it that explains he modeled his creation after taking the head of a man that had been executed by beheading (I think Guillotine, if I remember correctly…)
Josh Haney
June 24, 2015 at 7:06 am
Mark Dickinson
Tinto Blasf
June 24, 2015 at 1:09 am
Francesco Sorricaro gitarella fuoriporta?
Francesco Sorricaro
June 24, 2015 at 1:58 am
fico! Ma un po’ lontanuccio di stì tempi. Magari ta un po’… 😉
Bernard Fort
June 24, 2015 at 12:29 am
kick ass!