• created 2003
• carrara statuario marble & granite
• 29”H x 11”W x 9”D (53cmH x 28cmW x 23cmD)
• private collection, West Vancouver, BC, Canada

This original white marble sculpture of a male nude torso was commissioned by a patron in West Vancouver, BC, Canada for his personal fine art collection.

Sculptor Michael Binkley carved the artwork from statuario marble, the most coveted variety of white marble that is quarried at Carrara, Italy. Both the sculpture and the base are of the same material, and Binkley did so purposely to emulate the classical Greek statues and Roman statues of antiquity. This was one of the requirements of the patron for the sculpture commission.

Binkley carved most of the details of the musculature of the male nude, but not every muscle group. Instead, the artist softened some areas to add grace and flow. Binkley made the surfaces of the figure a silky smooth matte finish that is wonderful to the touch, yet the marble can hold shadows that are so important to describe the details to the viewer’s eye. The sculptor polished the base to a high gloss finish for contrast. The torso is mounted on the base with a steel pin, is removable and the figure can be easily turned to any viewing angle.