Marko Marulic 1925

Ivan Meštrović sculpted this bronze statue of Marko Marulić, and it stands solid, inviting contemplation. I love how the light catches the rough texture of the bronze, each groove and imperfection telling a story of the artist's hand, a record of the making. The figure is caught in a moment of reading, his brow furrowed in concentration. The book is not just an object but an extension of his mind, a portal into another world. It makes me think about the physicality of reading, the way we engage with books, not just intellectually, but emotionally and sensually. Looking at this, I'm reminded of Rodin, in the way Meštrović captures a sense of inner life through the surface texture and weight of the form. It's like he's not just showing us what Marulić looked like, but how he felt, what he thought. It's a beautiful reminder that art is always more than meets the eye, more than just a representation.