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Lot Essay
This group combines works after what are widely considered to be the finest sculptures around the theme of Venus and beauty. Occupying place of honour in the Tribuna of the Uffizi in Florence, the antique statue of the Venus de' Medici was removed by order of Napoleon in 1802. At first reluctant to accept the commission for a replacement from Ludovico I, King of Etruria, the challenge to surpass one of the masterpieces of Antique sculpture was too great to resist for Canova (d. 1822), who unveiled his Venus Italica in 1812 to wide acclaim. Venus, holding Paris' apple in her right hand in a pose reminiscent of Eve, and Hebe, handmaiden of the Gods and bearer of the cup of beauty, are after the work of Thorvaldsen (d. 1844). Widely considered the greatest neo-classical sculptor after Canova, Thorvaldsen's Venus was commissioned by the Russian Countess Irina Vorontsov as part of a series of gods and goddesses.
Undoubtedly works of choice and faithfully reproduced from the originals, it is likely that these four marble sculptures were made to satisfy the demands of a healthy export market by a small number of late 19th century Italian sculptors who retailed high quality copies of Antique and Neo-Classical sculpture.
Undoubtedly works of choice and faithfully reproduced from the originals, it is likely that these four marble sculptures were made to satisfy the demands of a healthy export market by a small number of late 19th century Italian sculptors who retailed high quality copies of Antique and Neo-Classical sculpture.