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Before his departure
for Rome, his
friends had applied
to the Venetian
senate for a
pension, to enable
him to pursue his
studies without
embarrassment. The
application was
ultimately
successful. The
stipend amounted to
three hundred ducats
(about 60 pounds per
annum), and was
limited to three
years. Canova had
obtained letters of
introduction to the
Venetian ambassador,
the Cavaliere Zulian,
and enlightened and
generous protector
of the arts, and was
received in the most
hospitable manner. |
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His arrival in Rome,
on 28 December 1780,
marks a new era in
his life. It was
here he was to
perfect himself by a
study of the most
splendid relics of
antiquity, and to
put his talents to
the severest test by
a competition with
the living masters
of the art. The
result was equal to
the highest hopes
cherished either by
himself or by his
friends. The work
which first
established his fame
at Rome was Theseus
Vanquishing the
Minotaur, now in the
collections of the
Victoria & Albert
Museum, in London.
The figures are of
the heroic size. |
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Theseus and the
Minotaur,
V&A,
London |
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The victorious
Theseus is
represented as
seated on the
lifeless body of the
monster. The
exhaustion which
visibly pervades his
whole frame proves
the terrible nature
of the conflict in
which he has been
engaged. Simplicity
and natural
expression had
hitherto
characterized
Canova's style; with
these were now
united more exalted
conceptions of
grandeur and of
truth. The Theseus
was regarded with
fervent admiration. |
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Canova's next
undertaking was a
monument in honor of
Clement XIV; but
before he proceeded
with it he deemed it
necessary to request
permission from the
Venetian senate,
whose servant he
considered himself
to be, in
consideration of the
pension. This he
solicited, in
person, and it was
granted. He returned
immediately to Rome,
and opened his
celebrated studio
close to the Via del
Babuino. He spent
about two years of
unremitting toil in
arranging the design
and composing the
models for the tomb
of the pontiff.
After these were
completed, other two
years were employed
in finishing the
monument, and it was
finally opened to
public inspection in
1787. The work, in
the opinion of
enthusiastic
dilettanti, stamped
the author as the
first artist of
modern times. |
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After five years of
incessant labor, he
completed another
cenotaph, to the
memory of Clement
XIII, which raised
his fame still
higher. Works now
came rapidly from
his chisel. Amongst
these is Psyche,
with a butterfly,
which is placed on
the left hand, and
held by the wings
with the right. This
figure, which is
intended as a
personification of
man's immaterial
part, is considered
as in almost every
respect the most
faultless and
classical of
Canova's works. In
two different
groups, and with
opposite expression,
the sculptor has
represented Cupid
with his bride; in
the one they are
standing, in the
other recumbent. |
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These and other
works raised his
reputation so high
that the most
flattering offers
were sent to him
from the Russian
court to induce him
to remove to St
Petersburg, but
these were declined,
although many of his
finest works made
their way to the
Hermitage Museum.
"Italy", says he, in
writing of the
occurrence to a
friend, "Italy is my
country - is the
country and native
soil of the arts. I
cannot leave her; my
infancy was nurtured
here. If my poor
talents can be
useful in any other
land, they must be
of some utility to
Italy; and ought not
her claim to be
preferred to all
others?" |
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Numerous works were
produced in the
years 1795-1797, of
which several were
repetitions of
previous
productions. One was
the celebrated group
representing the
Parting of Venus and
Adonis. This famous
production was sent
to Naples. The
French Revolution
was now extending
its shocks over
Italy; and Canova
sought obscurity and
repose in his native
Possagno. Thither he
retired in 1798, and
there he continued
for about a year,
principally employed
in painting, of
which art also he
had some knowledge.
Events in the
political world
having come to a
temporary lull, he
returned to Rome;
but his health being
impaired from
arduous application,
he took a journey
through a part of
Germany, in company
with his friend
Prince Rezzonico. He
returned from his
travels much
improved, and again
commenced his labors
with vigour and
enthusiasm. |
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Continue reading
about Canova's trips
to France and
England. Click here! |
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Region |
Veneto |
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Province |
Belluno. |
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Elevation |
325 m |
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Population |
20,560 |
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Demonym |
Feltrini |
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Time |
CET(UTC+1) |
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Postal |
32032 |
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Dialing |
0439 |
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Patron |
St.
Victor |
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