Locate
Begin with the period, setting and purpose that shaped the object.
An illustrated history of form
1,200 years of Italian sculpture.
Follow the changing language of Italian sculpture from the Middle Ages to the present: devotional objects, public monuments, intimate figures and experiments in material.
Sculptural study / 01About this section
Stone, bronze and plaster made legible through time.
This visual guide places major periods beside the formal questions that connect them: the treatment of the body, the role of movement, the weight of material and the changing relationship between sculpture and its setting.
Periods in view
Selected passages01Medieval
✦
Gothic
Vertical rhythm, sacred presence and expressive detail.
02Seventeenth century
◒
Baroque
Movement, theatrical space and forms caught in action.
03Twentieth century
□
Modern
Abstraction, new materials and the figure reconsidered.
04Reference
∑
Artists
An index for navigating sculptors and recurring ideas.
How to read a work
Look slowly, then look again.
Observe
Notice scale, surface, stance, light and the direction of the gaze.
Compare
Place one solution beside another to see what changes across time.
Return
Revisit the work after learning its context; details often arrive later.
Questions
A few useful notes.
What does this section cover?
It is an illustrated overview of Italian sculpture, moving from Gothic and Baroque works to modern practices and an index of artists.
Why begin with the Gothic period?
The Gothic period provides a clear starting point for considering devotional sculpture, verticality, expressive surfaces and the relationship between figure and architecture.
How should I use the period pages?
Use them as focused introductions. Move between the periods, then consult the artist index when a name or connection deserves another path.
Are the pages a complete history?
No. They are a selective editorial guide intended to encourage further looking and reading rather than replace a full catalogue.
Can I contact Thais?
For general enquiries about the collection, write to info@thais.it-index.it.