Amazing when one realizes how hard it is to carve marble. To carve a net without it breaking? Unreal. My guess: The net was an actual net, albeit thin. It was dipped in the ground marble and other substance just a bit thinner than the consistency of pancake batter. The net was then hung horizontal for a few moments so the excess could drip. It was then draped over the statue while it was still permeable. This allowed the artist to place it, "etch" the groves/details of the rope to make it more realistic, as well as smooth out and inconsistencies. The smoothing was done with wet sponges. That's all I got.

It's a truly incredible piece of work and the one with the gown over it?, I have no words. It seems other-wordly; not from this Earth.