What does statuary mean?
Statuary means statues collectively, especially when they are valued as works of art. The word can refer to a group of sculptures within a museum, temple, garden, or other setting, and it is particularly common in discussions of marble, bronze, classical, religious, or architectural sculpture. Because it names a body or category of artistic objects rather than normally one statue, statuary is generally used as a mass or collective noun. A single sculpture might be described as 'a piece of statuary,' although that phrasing can sound somewhat formal or literary. An older, uncommon sense of statuary also means a sculptor. Today, the collective artistic sense is dominant, making statuary useful when the emphasis is on sculpture as a whole, its style, its period, or the group of objects it comprises.
Statues collectively, especially when regarded as works of art.
"The courtyard contains an impressive collection of ancient statuary."
Usually used as a mass or collective noun.
A sculptor, in an older and now uncommon sense.
"The monument was designed by a celebrated French statuary."
This sense is chiefly literary or historical and is much less common than the collective art sense.
Usually uncountable when referring to sculpture collectively. The plural is uncommon and may be used when individual sculptors or separate bodies of statues are being distinguished.
"The catalogues describe the museum's statuaries by date and material."
Statuary gathers many individual statues into one collective name—like a crowd of silent witnesses to history.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does statuary come from?
Statuary comes from Latin statuarius, an adjective associated with statues and derived from statua, 'statue.' The Latin statua itself came from the verb statuere, 'to set up' or 'to place.' Related English words include statue, stature, and statute, all of which reflect the same broad Latin root of standing, setting up, or establishing.
How statuary is actually used
In modern use, statuary is usually a collective or mass noun, taking 'a piece of statuary' rather than a simple singular count. The older sense meaning 'sculptor' is uncommon.