Antonio Canova:

The Sublime Made Visible

PA RT 1 : B I O G R A P H Y & K E Y W O R K S
PA RT 2 : “ I TA L I A N V E N U S ” S TAT U E S
The Man and his Works
1. Overview: Why is Canova Special
2. Historical Background
3. Family Background
4. Early Life – apprentiships
5. Influences, styles, philosophy
6. Reviews, Legacy, Famous Patrons, Giposeum
7. Early explorations: drawings, paintings, sculptures
8-15 Fundamental Works: Masterpieces
 The Sublime
Made Visible
Canova’s visible expression of the
Spiritual
He remains outside the mainstream
of art.
Canova demanded that art embody
the concept of beauty.
In his view the beautiful in nature
was not radiant, but through art
became spiritual.
French Revolution
1789 – 1799

Antonio Canova
1757 – 1822

It was the best of times

and

it was the worst of times

Napoleon conquers
Italy
Republic of Venice : La Serenissima
Rise and Fall of the Empire  697-
Italia in Tears
B
Antonio Canova
1757 – 1822
French Revolution
1789 – 1799
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times

BEFORE & AFTER

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
1789 – 1799

Antonio Canova 1757 - 1822

One eye looking at past the other looking to future

Antonio Canova
1757 – 1820
Born: 1 November 1757 Republic of Venice
Died: 13 October 1822 Venice (aged 64)
Spouse: Never married
Notable works: Psyche Revived by Cupid's
Kiss; ...
Antonio Canova:
Early Life

• Power struggles
• Dangerous dynasties
• Family feuds
• Papal interference
• Foreign Invasions, pestilence
• De Medici, Borgia, Visconti,
Sforza, Malatesta, Bartolomeo
Colleoni
 In 1780 Canova resides in
Rome
Canova
Neo-Classicism
Canova’s Techniques
Museum Gipsoteca of Antonio Canova
at Possagno
“Early Works” 1770-
1780
Daedalus & Icarus
“Early Works” 1779
Psyche Revived
by Cupid’s Kiss
 Click icon to add picture

The Three Graces

 The Severed
Head of Medusa
Click icon to add picture
Click icon to add picture
Canova: The Sublime
Made Visible
Introduction to Italy’s
Divine Sculptor
PART 2 : “ITALIAN VENUS”
STATUES
 Antonio Canova’s
Venus Italica
Sculptures
1. Background

2. Venus Vincitrix : precedent

3. Venus de Milo – classical precedent

4. Venus in myth

5. Italian Resurgence –Risorgimento di Italia

6-7. Venus Italica I – history

8-9. Venus Italica II– Views

10-11. Venus Italica III – history

12. Contemporary Italian Venus

Click icon to add picture
Second Italian and Third
Italian Wars (1499–1504)
Arrest & Torture of Machiavelli on
19th of February 1513
 Machiavelli’s
Later Years
1514-1527
“When evening comes, I return home and
go into my study. On the threshold I strip
off my muddy, sweaty, workday clothes,
and put on the robes of court and palace,
and in this graver dress I enter the antique
courts of the ancients and am welcomed
by them, and there I taste the food that
alone is mine, and for which I was born.
And there I make bold to speak to them
and ask the motives of their actions, and
they, in their humanity, reply to me. And
for the space of four hours I forget the
world.”
The End of The Renaissance
In 1527 French army sacks Rome and
besiege Florence (1529)
 END OF PART 1

Machiavelli: The Prince

YESTERDAY & TODAY
PA RT 1 : B I O G R A P H Y
 Thank you
The Magic Door
A study on the Ancient Italic Traditions
is available at Amazon.ca or Chapters.ca

David Pantano
historian, author, lecturer, yogi
Contact:
davpan1000@yahoo.com