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Antonio Canova (Italian pronunciation: [anˈtɔːnjo kaˈnɔːva]; 1 November 1757 – 13 October 1822) was an Italian Neoclassical sculptor, famous for his marble sculptures.
Learn about Antonio Canova, the most famous and sought-after sculptor in Europe during his lifetime. Explore his Neoclassical style, his skill in carving marble, and his mythological and historical subjects.
- Italian
- November 1, 1757
- Possagno, Veneto, Italy
- October 13, 1822
- Canova sculpted from a young age. Canova was born in 1757 in Possagno, Italy. His father and grandfather were sculptors and stonecutters. Canova apprenticed to a Venetian sculptor at 11 years old and attended the Accademia di Belle Arti (fine arts academy) in Venice from about 17.
- Canova set off for Rome by the time he was 21. He sculpted in clay on his way to Rome. For example, he modeled the head of a young friar—but he lost that model when switching boats.
- Canova’s clay sketches give us a sense of his process. Canova’s large, famously polished marble sculptures began as small clay models. While he also made drawings, Canova clearly recognized the advantages of clay.
- Canova worked in clay, terracotta, plaster, and finally marble. Dancers are caught midtwirl in an early sketch for Three Graces—note the outflung head.
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Learn about the life and career of Antonio Canova, the greatest Neoclassical sculptor of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Explore his influential works, such as Theseus and the Minotaur, Bust of Napoleon, and the Tempio in Possagno.
Antonio Canova, marchese d’Ischia was an Italian sculptor, one of the greatest exponents of Neoclassicism. Among his works are the tombs of popes Clement XIV (1783–87) and Clement XIII (1787–92) and statues of Napoleon and of his sister Princess Borghese reclining as Venus Victrix.
Learn about the life and work of the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, the leading figure of the Neoclassical style. Discover his famous sculptures, such as Theseus and the Minotaur, The Three Graces and Pauline Borghese, and his influence on European art.
Antonio Canova. Italian, 1757 - 1822. Biography. Works of Art. Artist Bibliography. Biography. Canova was born in 1757 in the village of Possagno near Treviso in the Veneto. His father Pietro, a stonemason, died in 1761.
