Art is the Solution

Veiled Lady Source: Minneapolis Institute of Art Yesterday, I discussed the work and life of American sculptor Edmonia Lewis. I don’t normally discuss sculpture in this blog because it’s not a genre of art that I’ve studied very much. However, as we’re already on the topic, I thought I’d write a little more about sculpture and tackle a topic that has always fascinated me: veiled statues. For centuries, the veil has been a proving ground for artists. The challenge of depicting something transparent on top of another surface—a difficult endeavor requiring skill and talent—was seen as a way for artists to prove their skill. While this tradition persisted for hundreds of years in the medium of paint, it didn’t gain popularity in sculpture until the eighteenth century, with many artists using this illusionary technique to demonstrate their mastery. However, it was the Italian artist Raffaelo Monti who truly made a name for himself as a sculptor of veiled women in the nineteenth centurie...