Prudence c. 1357

Editor: This is "Prudence," a marble sculpture created around 1357 by Bonino da Campione. I'm struck by the figure's multiple faces—it gives the piece an uncanny, almost surreal quality. What do you see in this work? Curator: Immediately apparent is the interplay between line and mass. Consider how the drapery folds articulate a sense of volume, yet remain subservient to the overall verticality of the piece. The doubling of the head, of course, disrupts any easy reading. How does this duplicity of form complicate your understanding? Editor: It makes me think about the layers of thought and decision-making that go into being prudent—like weighing different perspectives. It's not just a simple, single-minded approach. Curator: Precisely. Da Campione has cleverly embodied the multifaceted nature of Prudence, transforming an abstract concept into a tangible, if somewhat unsettling, form. Note also how the polished surfaces contrast with the roughly carved areas, drawing attention to the materiality of the marble itself. Editor: That contrast does give it a raw, unfinished feeling despite the polish on the figure's face and drapery. Curator: The rough carving can be understood as a tool for contrasting surfaces to define shapes and the allegory's narrative elements. The visual grammar constructs and conveys its complex meaning. What aspects of the work are most meaningful to you now? Editor: I hadn’t considered how the textures contribute to the narrative. The smooth parts highlight what is present and known, and the rough-hewn areas leave open questions about how we discover or determine "Prudence". Curator: Indeed. It is the tension between the known and the unknown, rendered through skillful manipulation of form and material, that elevates this sculpture beyond mere representation to the realm of profound allegory.