Heretic Facing Right with his Left Arm behind his Back

These are models for the large wooden figures that once supported bookcases in the library of the Dominican monastery of SS. Giovanni e Paolo, Venice, since lost. The vanquished heretics have been defeated by the doctrine of the Catholic Church - the very doctrine in the weighted books they support. Working in clay or wax was an essential part of a sculptor's creative process, allowing him to explore ideas, which ranged from quick sketches to more finished models such as these. Models could be presented to patrons for approval, and also be used to delegate work to assistants. Functional in origin, they came to be appreciated as works of art in their own right in the 18th century. These examples were later gilded.