Sculpting Souls: Apprenticeship, Sacred Art, and the Lost Bottega (Dony Mac Manus & Christopher Alles) | Ep. 46

In this episode, Sean is joined by sculptors Dony Mac Manus and Christopher Alles to explore a world most people never encounter up close: the ancient, demanding, deeply spiritual craft of classical sculpture. Chris shares how a college drawing class, a study-abroad coincidence, and an unexpected invitation led him—at just nineteen—to Florence, where he apprenticed under Dony in the historic studio of Fra Angelico. Dony recounts the origins of his mission to revive the bottega model and form artists both technically and spiritually—a vision that eventually contributed to a sacred art school and significant commissions, including a bronze altarpiece now housed in Rome. Together, they reflect on mentorship, vocation, the Church’s role as patron, and the interior life that shapes the work of an artist.Subscribe on YouTube: @TheWalkupPodcastFollow on Instagram: @thewalkuppodcast