Art: Out of His Own Pocket

A calm, small, square-cut sculptor named Costantino Nivola has finished what may be the biggest single bas-relief in modern history. Darius the Mede and Nebuchadnezzar ordered bigger ones, but the ancient rulers never saw anything remotely like Nivola's.

Made of reinforced concrete, in 132 numbered panels weighing 110 tons, the bas-relief lay face down last week in back of Nivola's summer home at East Hampton, N.Y. Seven huge platform trucks will soon transport it to Hartford, Conn., where it will be fitted to the steel frame of Mutual Insurance Co. of Hartford's new office building. In place, the bas-relief will serve as...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!