'VENERE ITALICA', A MARBLE FIGURE OF VENUS

Details

'VENERE ITALICA', A MARBLE FIGURE OF VENUS
AFTER ANTONIO CANOVA, ITALIAN, MID-19TH CENTURY

The goddess standing before of a lion-paw casket, holding a drape at her breast, inscribed '^.ANTONIO^.CANOVA^.SCULTORE^.' ----- 68 in. (172.9cm.) high, on 3-part marble plinth carved with ribbon-tied floral swags ---- 33½ in. (85.1 cm.) high

Literature

H. Honour, "Canova's Studio Practice - II: 1792-1822", Burlington Magazine, vol. CXIV, 1972, pp. 214-229
H. Honour, "Canova's Statues of Venus", Burlington Magazine, October, 1972, pp. 658-670
M. Praz, L'opera completa del Canova, Milan, 1978, cat. no. 167
F. Licht, Canova, New York, 1983, pp. 191-193

Lot Essay

In 1802, Canova was commissioned by the Duke of Tuscany to carve a copy of the 'Medici Venus' which had been stolen from the Uffizi and brought to Paris by French troops. The sculptor made variations on the subject: 'Venus' (1807-1810), Residenzmuseum, Munich; 'Venus Italica' (1804-1812), Palazzo Pitti, Florence; 'The Landsdowne Venus' (1811-1814), Private Collection, New York; 'The Hope Venus' (1817-1820), City Art Gallery, Leeds. The quality of carving of both the figure and the base are evidence of the influence of the Canova workshop.