Marble is a hard, smooth stone that can be polished to a shine and is often used in buildings and statues. As a verb, to marble means to give something a streaked or swirled pattern that looks like marble.
From Old French 'marbre', from Latin 'marmor', from Greek 'marmaros' meaning 'shining stone'. Its beauty and polishability made it a favorite material in ancient art and architecture.
The small glass balls children play with are called 'marbles' because they were once made from real marble. The phrase 'lose your marbles' may jokingly imagine your thoughts as those little rolling balls slipping away.
In art history, marble sculpture has often celebrated male subjects and male artists, while women’s roles as sculptors, patrons, or workshop collaborators were minimized or omitted. The canon of 'great marble works' has been curated through institutions that historically excluded women.
Use marble neutrally as a material, and when discussing art history, avoid implying that important marble work was exclusively created by men. Where relevant, acknowledge overlooked women sculptors and patrons.
["stone","calcite rock","marble stone"]
Women sculptors working in marble have often been described as exceptions or curiosities rather than as part of the mainstream, despite significant technical and artistic contributions.
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