拍品專文
The present picture is a preparatory study for a larger Portrait of Antonio Canova in the Österreichischen Galerie, Vienna (on loan from the Akademiegalerie, Vienna (R. Reuek, Gemäldegallerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste in Wien - Illustriertes Bestandverzeichnis, Vienna, 1989, p. 137, inv. no. 293, 113 x 93cm.), commissioned by Count Razumowski, Russian Ambassador to Vienna, at the time of Canova's visit to Vienna for the installation of his Monument to Maria Cristina of Austria in the Augustinerkirche, Vienna. The sculptor is here respresented with a laurel crown and the tools of his trade in front of the winged genius and sleeping lion of the Monument.
As well as being interested in the visual arts, Count Razumowski was a friend of both Mozart and Beethoven, who dedicated to him his three string quartets, op. 59, of 1805-6, 'The Razumowski Quartets'.
As well as being interested in the visual arts, Count Razumowski was a friend of both Mozart and Beethoven, who dedicated to him his three string quartets, op. 59, of 1805-6, 'The Razumowski Quartets'.