He becomes acquainted with the famous musician Fortunato, a beautiful maiden he later learns is named Bianca, and the eloquent cavalier Donati.

When the woman invites him to visit her home some day and shows her face, Florio recognises her as the lady from the garden.

[1] The Marble Statue is seen a modern adaptation of the traditional Venusberg myth, in which Venus lures men through her beauty, causing them to lead sinful lives, for which they usually fall victim to damnation.

The Marble Statue was first published in the autumn of 1818 as part of Johann Leonhard Schrag [de]'s Frauentaschenbuch für das Jahr 1819 (lit.

In the 20th century it was criticised for being rigid and for presenting a black and white conflict between redeeming Christianity and damnable paganism.

In the late 20th century this was reevaluated and critics have pointed to the ambiguity of overlapping Christian and pagan elements and how the sexual imagery subverts the supposed moralistic message of the story.