#ArtSaturday Antonio Canova 1757-1822, Neoclassical Italian sculptor and painter, most known for his sculptures
Self-Portrait, 1792 pic.twitter.com/VZYpollYBd
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Canova’s father died when he was 4, and his mother remarried a year later. Canova was sent to live with his grandfather, who was a sculptor. Before he was 10, Canova was working in clay, carving marble, and was employed by his grandfather.Dedalus and Icarus pic.twitter.com/SBim5pTJLA
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
1770: At the age of 12-13, Canova was apprenticed for two years. Afterward, he studied at Venice’s Academy di Belle Arti.1775: Canova was commissioned to do statues of Orpheus and Eurydice
Orpheus, 1777 pic.twitter.com/VboldPiw2B
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
1779: Canova opened his own studio, but refused to take pupils or students.Cupid and Psyche, 1787 pic.twitter.com/vbtDEa9X3K
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Canova hired workers to do the initial rough carving, in marble, of his sculptures, working from detailed plaster models made by Canova.Cupid and Psyche, detail pic.twitter.com/WAKJ9PMH0P
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Canova did the finishing carving on the marble. While he worked, he had people read to him from literary works or history books.Cupid and Psyche, reverso pic.twitter.com/gSJDtus5QH
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Cupid and Psyche, reverso, detail pic.twitter.com/ZJ74FVscUs
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
1780: Canova went to Rome where he studied the work of Michelangelo.
1781: Canova was hired to create Theseus and the Minotaur; observers were convinced the statue was a classical work, not a contemporary one.Theseus and the Minotaur pic.twitter.com/vOAhH1V5iy
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
After the final carving, Canova worked his statues down with pumice & other materials to soften transitions between areas. He applied an unknown composition to lighten the marble. Friends denied that he used any acids to do this.Repentant Magdalene, 1796 pic.twitter.com/Kn5rgdy8cu
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
By 1800, Canova was the most celebrated artist in Europe.Perseus (detail), 1804 pic.twitter.com/mrVYp9ZBNE
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Canova did nude sculptures at a time when nudes were unusual, especially if sitter was high-ranking. Canova did a nude of Napoleon, & one of Napoleon’s sister, Pauline, though the latter was not meant for public viewing.Venus Victrix (Pauline Napoleon), 1808 pic.twitter.com/hR7UMG1Wa1
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Cupid and Psyche, 1808 pic.twitter.com/OnsUEQ8kyu
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Cupid and Psyche, 1808, reverse pic.twitter.com/OeOaZ3I8MQ
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Cupid and Psyche, 1808, detail pic.twitter.com/1ZYdxIC6zA
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
1816: Canova returned to Venice with some of the art that had been stolen by Napoleon.The Three Graces, 1814 pic.twitter.com/DIfheNBMlf
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
The Three Graces, oblique view pic.twitter.com/BcIL9konGp
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Toward the end of the 18th century, it was fashionable to view sculptures at night, by candlelight or torch-light. Canova began to do the finishing touches on his works by candlelight.Reclining Naiad, 1820 pic.twitter.com/Q2ms4zs4pB
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
As the art-by-candlelight fad progressed, Canova allowed visitors to tour his studio at night where they viewed his work by candlelight.Venus Italica, 1819 pic.twitter.com/VD6OG3sg5y
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
Venus Italica, side view pic.twitter.com/EWZYooRiH9
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
#ArtSaturday Canova
1822: Canova died at the age of 64, after suffering from ill health.The Three Graces, the first version, 1814, made for Empress Josephine, and the second version, 1817, made for the Duke of Bedford, who greatly admired the first version pic.twitter.com/MEW6GUttzg
— Dr. Alexandria Szeman: #BelieveSurvivors (@Alexandria_SZ) June 8, 2019
