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The events which
marked the life of
the artist during
the first fifteen
years of the period
in which he was
engaged on the
above-mentioned
works scarcely merit
notice. His mind was
entirely absorbed in
the labors of his
studio, and, with
the exception of his
journeys to Paris,
one to Vienna, and a
few short intervals
of absence in
Florence and other
parts of Italy, he
never quit Rome. In
his own words, "his
statues were the
sole proofs of his
civil existence." |
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There was, however,
another proof, which
modesty forbade him
to mention, an
ever-active
benevolence,
especially towards
artists. In 1815 he
was commissioned by
the Pope to
superintend the
transmission from
Paris of those works
of art which had
formerly been
conveyed thither
under the direction
of Napoleon. By his
zeal and exertions -
for there were many
conflicting
interests to
reconcile - he
adjusted the affair
in a manner at once
creditable to his
judgment and
fortunate for his
country. |
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In the autumn of
this year he
gratified a wish he
had long entertained
of visiting London,
where he received
the highest tokens
of esteem. The
artist for whom he
showed particular
sympathy and regard
in London was
Benjamin Haydon, who
might at the time be
counted the sole
representative of
historical painting
there, and whom he
especially honored
for his championship
of the Elgin
marbles, then
recently transported
to England, and
ignorantly
depreciated by
polite connoisseurs.
Among Canova's
English pupils were
sculptors Sir
Richard Westmacott
and John Gibson. |
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Canova returned to
Rome in the
beginning of 1816,
with the ransomed
spoils of his
country's genius.
Immediately after,
he received several
marks of
distinction: he was
made President of
the Accademia di San
Luca, the main
artistic institution
in Rome, and by the
hand of the Pope
himself his name was
inscribed in "the
Golden Volume of the
Capitol", and he
received the title
of Marquis of
Ischia, with an
annual pension of
3000 crowns. |
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Perseus with the
Head of Medusa |
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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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