Facts about Antonio Canova

1. 08

   Canova's marble monument to Pope Clement XIII, completed in 1792, was his first major commission in Rome and established his reputation as the leading neoclassical sculptor of his era.

   Antonio CanovaMay 14sharesculpturecommissionrome
2. 07

   Canova's monumental marble group Hercules and Lichas, completed in 1815, measures nearly 10 feet tall and depicts the mythological hero hurling his betrayer into the sea.

   Antonio CanovaMay 14sharesculpturemythologyneoclassical
3. 06

   In 1819, Antonio Canova was created a marquis by Pope Pius VII in recognition of his artistic achievements and service to the papal state.

   Antonio CanovaMay 14sharehonorsbiography19th-century
4. 05

   The Gypsotheca in Possagno houses 200 plaster models by Antonio Canova, preserving his original design process and artistic evolution from early sketches through finished works.

   Antonio CanovaMay 14sharesculptureneoclassicalart
5. 04

   Over 200 plaster models created by Antonio Canova during his lifetime are preserved at the Gypsotheca in Possagno, Italy, his hometown studio.

   Antonio CanovaMay 14shareartsculpturepreservation
6. 03

   Canova's marble sculpture of Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, completed in 1793, remains one of the most celebrated neoclassical works and currently resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

   Antonio CanovaMay 14shareartsculptureneoclassical
7. 02

   Pope Pius VII appointed Antonio Canova inspector of fine arts in Rome in 1807, a position he held until his death in 1822.

   Antonio CanovaMay 14sharearthistoryleadership
8. 01

   Between 1802 and 1822, Antonio Canova sculpted a marble statue of Napoleon that stood over 11 feet tall for the Apsley House in London.

   Antonio CanovaMay 14sharesculpturenapoleon19th-century