Antonio Canova
|
|
Canovas_three_graces_in_hermitage.jpg
A version of the Three Graces in the ,
Antonio Canova (November 1, 1757 - October 13, 1822) was an Italian sculptor who became famous for his marble sculptures that delicately rendered nude flesh. The epitome of the neoclassical sculptor, his work marked a return to classical refinement after the theatrical excesses of Baroque art.
Canova was born in Possagno in the Province of Treviso where his family had for generations been stone cutters; as a result and he learned to cut marble at a very early age. When only twelve years old he modelled a lion in butter, that was so liked by Signor Falieri that he sent him to be taught by Torretti, the most noted sculptor of the time. He studied ancient art and made many statues of classical subjects, as well as many monuments, busts and statues of living people, among them Napoleon and George Washington. The large fortune which he made was mostly spent in helping the poor, or in assisting other artists, he was made a nobleman and received many honors.
Canova died in Venice aged sixty-five and was buried in the town of his birth. His heart was interred in a marble pyramid he designed as a mausoleum for the painter Titian in the church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice, now a monument to the sculptor.
Among Canova's pupils were the British sculptors Sir Richard Westmacott and John Gibson.
Notable works by Canova
- The Three Graces
- Cupid and Psyche
- Cupid and Psyche with Butterfly
- Venus and Adonis
- Daedalus and Icarus
- Perseus slays Medusa
Canova often executed more than one copy of a successful sculpture; there are for example two copies of The Three Graces and two of Cupid and Psyche.
Persus-with-the-head-of-med.jpg
displays 's head in this Canova.
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia entry for Antonio Canova (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03298b.htm)
- French page on Louvre site lnking to three sculptures by Canova and two portraits of the artist (http://cartelfr.louvre.fr/cartelfr/visite?srv=rs_display_res&critere=antonio+canova&operator=AND&nbToDisplay=5&langue=fr)
- Insecula.com: French language biography and links to pages on works (http://www.insecula.com/contact/A006518.html)
- An extremely big picture of Canova's Three Graces in the Hermitage museum, St. Petersburg (370 kb) (http://www.cis.nctu.edu.tw/~whtsai/Trip%20to%20Russia/Main%20pages/Representative%20pictures%20for%20days/06%20A%20marble%20sculpture%20by%20Antonio%20Canova%20---%20The%20Three%20Graces.JPG)
- Perseus and Medusa at Webshots Community (links to bigger version) (http://community.webshots.com/photo/129745084/129745932sUQTgh)
- Another view on Webshots, also links to bigger version (http://community.webshots.com/photo/188747586/188753190zvQmQe)
- Waist up, another Webshots photo (http://community.webshots.com/photo/199795066/200922982yoxIIA)
- Perseus back view from Webshots (http://community.webshots.com/photo/188540285/188550279aIMUbU)de:Antonio Canova
es:Antonio Canova fr:Antonio Canova it:Antonio Canova sv:Antonio Canova