What historical stone works pioneered emotional expression in figures?

The depiction of emotion in stone figures marks a significant evolution in art history. Among the earliest examples are the ancient Egyptian "Seated Scribe" (2600 BCE), whose inlaid eyes and subtle smile convey lifelike alertness. Greek sculptors revolutionized emotional expression during the Classical period (5th century BCE), with works like the "Riace Warriors" showing individualized tension and the "Laocoön Group" (1st century BCE) epitomizing dramatic agony. The Hellenistic period further intensified emotional realism, as seen in the "Dying Gaul" (230 BCE). Renaissance masters like Michelangelo then revived and refined these techniques, with his "Pietà" (1499) achieving unprecedented pathos in marble. These groundbreaking works established the vocabulary of emotional expression that still influences figurative art today.