{"id":1822290,"date":"2026-03-12T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1822290"},"modified":"2026-03-12T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T21:00:00","slug":"historic-architecture-emerges-from-stone-in-matthew-simmonds-ethereal-sculptures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1822290","title":{"rendered":"Historic Architecture Emerges from Stone in Matthew Simmonds Ethereal Sculptures"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2548\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Architectural columns and arches meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of marble\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cCathedral: Study\u201d (2022), Carrara marble, 41 centimeters tall. All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Historic Architecture Emerges from Stone in Matthew Simmonds Ethereal Sculptures<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-12T07:19:45-05:00\">March 12, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-history\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/history\/\" rel=\"tag\">History<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F03%2Fmatthew-simmonds-architecture-marble-stone-carving-sculptures%2F&amp;title=Historic%20Architecture%20Emerges%20from%20Stone%20in%20Matthew%20Simmonds%20Ethereal%20Sculptures\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"471065\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>From unassuming hunks of Carrara marble and limestone, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mattsimmonds.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Matthew Simmonds<\/a> carves realistic, miniature gothic cathedral arches, stairwells, and colonnades. Often based on architectural details of real places, such as cities around Tuscany and Germany\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bamberg_Cathedral\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bamberg Cathedral<\/a>, the sculptures portray intimate details of corners, vaulted ceilings, arcades, and stairwells that can sometimes be peeked through additional apertures. The artist\u2019s meticulously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/matthew-simmonds\">carved marble and limestone<\/a> forms reveal smooth, ornate interiors while highlighting the natural quality of the stone.<\/p>\n<p>Lately, Simmonds has been working consistently on a range of commissions, and he\u2019s taking advantage of a current quiet period to return to experimentation in the studio. He tells Colossal, \u201cI am interested in clarifying what I want to say with various themes in the work, in particular the role space and light play and how this can express a sense of the sacred in the inner world of the sculpture.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-8.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"\u201cProsc\u00e6nium: Faxe\u201d (2025), limestone, 39 x 39 x 45 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cProsc\u00e6nium: Faxe\u201d (2025), limestone, 39 x 39 x 45 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cProsc\u00e6nium: Faxe\u201d (2025), limestone, 39 x 39 x 45 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1245\" height=\"1417\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-8.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural columns meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of limestone\" class=\"wp-image-471073\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cProsc\u00e6nium: Faxe\u201d (2025), limestone, 39 x 39 x 45 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-9.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"Detail of \u201cProsc\u00e6nium: Faxe\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Detail of \u201cProsc\u00e6nium: Faxe\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Detail of \u201cProsc\u00e6nium: Faxe\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2929\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-9.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural columns meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of limestone\" class=\"wp-image-471077\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of \u201cProsc\u00e6nium: Faxe\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-10.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"\u201cRemnant of Kings\u201d (2025), limestone, 15 centimeters tall\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cRemnant of Kings\u201d (2025), limestone, 15 centimeters tall\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cRemnant of Kings\u201d (2025), limestone, 15 centimeters tall\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2464\" height=\"2110\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-10.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural cathedral ceiling details meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of limestone\" class=\"wp-image-471074\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cRemnant of Kings\u201d (2025), limestone, 15 centimeters tall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"\u201cCities of Tuscany: Pisa\u201d (2025), Carrara marble, 37 centimeters tall\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cCities of Tuscany: Pisa\u201d (2025), Carrara marble, 37 centimeters tall\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cCities of Tuscany: Pisa\u201d (2025), Carrara marble, 37 centimeters tall\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2373\" height=\"3326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-5.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural columns and arches meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of marble\" class=\"wp-image-471070\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cCities of Tuscany: Pisa\u201d (2025), Carrara marble, 37 centimeters tall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"\u201cA Light in Dark Places\u201d (2025), limestone, 42 centimeters tall\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cA Light in Dark Places\u201d (2025), limestone, 42 centimeters tall\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cA Light in Dark Places\u201d (2025), limestone, 42 centimeters tall\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1660\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-1.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural columns and arches meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of limestone\" class=\"wp-image-471066\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cA Light in Dark Places\u201d (2025), limestone, 42 centimeters tall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"\u201cReverse Plan: Bamberg Cathedral\u201d (2024), limestone, 51 centimeters tall\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cReverse Plan: Bamberg Cathedral\u201d (2024), limestone, 51 centimeters tall\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cReverse Plan: Bamberg Cathedral\u201d (2024), limestone, 51 centimeters tall\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1921\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-2.jpg\" alt=\"An architectural floorplan of a cathedral carved in miniature in a hunk of limestone\" class=\"wp-image-471067\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cReverse Plan: Bamberg Cathedral\u201d (2024), limestone, 51 centimeters tall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"\u201cGothic Passage with Sedilia\u201d (2025), limestone, 17 x 15 x 20 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cGothic Passage with Sedilia\u201d (2025), limestone, 17 x 15 x 20 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cGothic Passage with Sedilia\u201d (2025), limestone, 17 x 15 x 20 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1929\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-7.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural columns, arches, and stairs meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of limestone\" class=\"wp-image-471072\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cGothic Passage with Sedilia\u201d (2025), limestone, 17 x 15 x 20 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"\u201cEssay in Baroque Space IV\u201d (2024), Carrara marble, 37.5 centimeters tall\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cEssay in Baroque Space IV\u201d (2024), Carrara marble, 37.5 centimeters tall\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cEssay in Baroque Space IV\u201d (2024), Carrara marble, 37.5 centimeters tall\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1680\" height=\"2221\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-6.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural columns meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of marble\" class=\"wp-image-471071\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cEssay in Baroque Space IV\u201d (2024), Carrara marble, 37.5 centimeters tall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-11.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"\u201cWindows 26\u201d (2026), limestone, 50 x 10 x 50 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cWindows 26\u201d (2026), limestone, 50 x 10 x 50 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cWindows 26\u201d (2026), limestone, 50 x 10 x 50 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-11.jpg\" alt=\"Architectural features, trains, and other objects meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of limestone\" class=\"wp-image-471075\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cWindows 26\u201d (2026), limestone, 50 x 10 x 50 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-12.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-471065\" title=\"Detail of \u201cWindows 26\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"Detail of \u201cWindows 26\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"Detail of \u201cWindows 26\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1738\" height=\"2268\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/simmonds-12.jpg\" alt=\"A detail of architectural features, trains, and other objects meticulously carved in miniature in a hunk of limestone\" class=\"wp-image-471076\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of \u201cWindows 26\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul 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href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/03\/mischief-npr-ad-campaign-logo-questions-curiosity\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cCathedral: Study\u201d (2022), Carrara marble, 41 centimeters tall. All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission Historic Architecture Emerges from Stone in Matthew Simmonds Ethereal Sculptures March 12, 2026 ArtHistory Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark From unassuming hunks of Carrara marble and limestone, Matthew Simmonds carves realistic, miniature gothic cathedral arches, stairwells, and colonnades. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1822290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1822290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1822290"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1822290\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1822290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1822290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1822290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}