Karl Kolbitz's 'Divine Presence' explores marble's medieval mysticism

A new book by Karl Kolbitz, titled 'Divine Presence', examines the supernatural significance of marble in Gothic and Renaissance art. Kolbitz, a creative director and former muse of Wolfgang Tillmans, argues that before the Enlightenment and the birth of geology, marble was seen as a mysterious, living substance with spiritual properties, rather than a mere commodity. The book mines paintings from the medieval and Renaissance periods to reveal how artists depicted marble as a magical rock, often associated with miracles and dragon lore. This pre-scientific worldview contrasts sharply with modern understanding of marble as a metamorphic rock formed under extreme pressure. The work invites readers to reconsider the cultural and mystical dimensions of a material now ubiquitous in luxury interiors and global markets.