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…
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
