Portrait of Antonio Canova, bust-length, in a red coat

Antonio Canova (1757-1822), the leading neo-classical scupltor in Italy, was born in Possagno. He moved to Venice in 1768 and settled in Rome from 1778 and remained there for the rest of his career. Hugh Douglas Hamilton was working in Rome from 1778 until 1791 when he returned to Dublin. Another pastel of this subject and of a similar size, formerly in the Dartmouth sale; Christie's London, 13 July 1928, was sold Christie's London, 7 November 1995, lot 49 (£7,475).