... let us not also forget the great Giuliano Finelli -- a one-time assistant of Bernini's who did the actual carving for many of the elements most praised in some of Bernini's sculptures (the delicate leaves on Bernini's Apollo & Daphne, for example). Bernini himself considered Finelli to be a better carver, and relied on him to pull off these difficult feats in marble. Finelli eventually split with Bernini because he was tired of Bernini taking all of the credit for his work and for hogging all the big commissions. Finelli went on to sculpt many breathtaking pieces on his own -- pieces that, in the opinions of many, surpass the technical skill of Bernini.
Have you ever visited Pere-Lachaise in France? The Cimitero monumentale di Staglieno in Genoa? Or even your local cemetery? These are the art galleries of some of the greatest sculptors who have ever lived -- sculptors with skills rivaling those of Bernini, Michelangelo, and Donatello (easily!).
It's impossible to say which sculptors are the best, because many of our planet's greatest sculptors lived lives of simple tradesmen -- the figurative and ornamental carvers who worked on the many beautiful monuments you see in your cities -- in cemeteries, parks, museums, etc. If you are lucky to live in an area that hasn't been completely taken over by simple concrete buildings, you will be privileged to see the beautiful architectural carvings surrounding you! Many of the "Greatest Sculptors of All Time" are completely anonymous.
I say this coming from a family of figurative carvers, and having known and worked myself with many carvers who I can say were as gifted -- as virtuostic -- as a Bernini, or a Michelangelo, or any one of the great masters.
Within this list you have now, Bernini and Michelangelo indubitably deserve to be there (although their positions on the list are not set in stone). They were both unique geniuses and left behind them works that are timeless & must certainly be regarded as among the best. There have also been countless sculptors whose work rivaled theres, however -- Giuseppe Sammartino, for instance -- in terms of precision,virtuosity, etc... so I don't think it's possible to make a list of this nature accurately.
Have you ever visited Pere-Lachaise in France? The Cimitero monumentale di Staglieno in Genoa? Or even your local cemetery? These are the art galleries of some of the greatest sculptors who have ever lived -- sculptors with skills rivaling those of Bernini, Michelangelo, and Donatello (easily!).
It's impossible to say which sculptors are the best, because many of our planet's greatest sculptors lived lives of simple tradesmen -- the figurative and ornamental carvers who worked on the many beautiful monuments you see in your cities -- in cemeteries, parks, museums, etc. If you are lucky to live in an area that hasn't been completely taken over by simple concrete buildings, you will be privileged to see the beautiful architectural carvings surrounding you! Many of the "Greatest Sculptors of All Time" are completely anonymous.
I say this coming from a family of figurative carvers, and having known and worked myself with many carvers who I can say were as gifted -- as virtuostic -- as a Bernini, or a Michelangelo, or any one of the great masters.
Within this list you have now, Bernini and Michelangelo indubitably deserve to be there (although their positions on the list are not set in stone). They were both unique geniuses and left behind them works that are timeless & must certainly be regarded as among the best. There have also been countless sculptors whose work rivaled theres, however -- Giuseppe Sammartino, for instance -- in terms of precision,virtuosity, etc... so I don't think it's possible to make a list of this nature accurately.