In this interpretation of Juliusz Słowacki's ‘Snycerz był zatrudniony Dyjanny lepieniem…’ [The carver was busy shaping Diana's statue] the discussion focuses on his attitude to matter, especially as the material of art. The article argues that Słowacki elevates and even sacralises mud, the most lowly of raw materials, and thus exposes the falseness of the popular view that he despises matter, the base opposite of the spirit. However, it would be more accurate to say that in his vision, which is part of his Genesis from the Spirit philosophy, the path to salvation leads through the reconciliation of spirit and matter rather than a triumph of one over the other.