Antonio Canova seemed to have been born into the artistic world. After the death of his father, he went into the care of his grandfather, both stonemasons. The latter introduced him to the art of sculpture. At the age of ten he already began to make models out of clay and marble. At the age of twelve, Canova apprenticed in Venice to Giuseppe Bernardi, already an important sculptor at the time, where he put the finishing touches on his skills. Within a few years, he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, where he won several awards and eventually opened his own studio. An anecdote says that at a dinner in noble company, Canova engraved the figure of a lion with outstretched wings in butter so close to reality that it astonished the guests present almost in disbelief.
Later, when he was intensively engaged in Italian and Greek mythology and the classics, Canova created numerous statues and sculptures in Rome, which today are highly regarded in the art world. It is not without reason that Canova is considered one of the main figures of Italian classicism and is sometimes hailed as the greatest sculptural genius since Michelangelo, whose works he himself greatly admired. His dancing, light-footed movements, feminist grace, and flowing, graceful forms made him an outstanding artist of his time. He was in some ways a perfectionist, as evidenced by the fact that he lit his works by candlelight at night to highlight their uniqueness and beauty in a mythical light and to impress guests and collaborators. The first visitors who saw his exquisite works were quite surprised that they were contemporary art and not original ancient masterpieces.
Because of his attained high reputation, many monarchs and princes brought him to their courts and Canova received commissions from all over Europe. However, he refused to go to the French imperial court as a leading sculptor. In his last years in Rome, he even traveled across the continent as a papal commissioner and, moreover, brought back to Italy the works of art that had been carried off during the Napoleonic Wars, which he succeeded in doing, after which the pope bestowed upon him the title of "Marquis of Ischia" in recognition. The esteem in which this extraordinary artist is held is also evident from the fact that his mortal remains are preserved in a parish church of his own design in his hometown of Possagno, and in Venice his heart is preserved in the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa and his right hand in a vase in the Academy of Fine Arts.
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.jpg "Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Cupid (detail) by Antonio Canova")
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_sister_of_Napoleon_I_represent_-_(MeisterDrucke-1058590).jpg "Pauline Bonaparte, Princess Borghese (1780-1825) Represented as Victorious Venus. Marble Sculpture by Antonio Canova (1804-1808) Galleria Borghese by Antonio Canova")
_sister_of_Napoleon_I_represent_-_(MeisterDrucke-1058590).jpg)
 (for detail see 27638) (see also 154097) - (MeisterDrucke-172695).jpg "Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Cupid (1787) (detail) by Antonio Canova")
 (for detail see 27638) (see also 154097) - (MeisterDrucke-172695).jpg)
_marble_figure_group_detail_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094191).jpg "Venus and Adonis (detail) by Antonio Canova")
_marble_figure_group_detail_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094191).jpg)
_plaster_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088567).jpg "Venus Crowning Adonis by Antonio Canova")
_plaster_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088567).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-263464).jpg "Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Triumphant, c.1805-08 by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Love by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Pauline Bonaparte by Antonio Canova")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-273218).jpg "Daedalus and Icarus by Antonio Canova")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-379248).jpg "The Hope by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-379248).jpg)
_tempera_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092812).jpg "Woman playing castanets by Antonio Canova by Antonio Canova")
_tempera_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092812).jpg)
_marble_statue_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092759).jpg "Hebe by Antonio Canova")
_marble_statue_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092759).jpg)
.jpg "Reclining Naiad by Antonio Canova")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-379249).jpg "The Justice by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-379249).jpg)
.jpg "Transporting Body of Horatio Nelson by Antonio Canova")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092088).jpg "Hebe by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092088).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-320832).jpg "Three Graces by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-320832).jpg)
 as Venus Triumphant c1805-08 (marble) - (MeisterDrucke-91243).jpg "Pauline Bonaparte (1780-1825) as Venus Triumphant, c.1805-08 by Antonio Canova")
 as Venus Triumphant c1805-08 (marble) - (MeisterDrucke-91243).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-191187).jpg "Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Triumphant, c.1805-08 by Antonio Canova")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-249599).jpg "Venus Italica by Antonio Canova")
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 1783-92 (marble) - (MeisterDrucke-283486).jpg "Tomb of Pope Clement XIII by Antonio Canova")
 1783-92 (marble) - (MeisterDrucke-283486).jpg)
.jpg "Tomb of the Archduchess Maria Christine, Favourite Daughter of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria by Antonio Canova")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-146077).jpg "Cupid and Psyche, 1796 by Antonio Canova")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-161791).jpg "Daedalus and Icarus by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Male Nude, Creugas of Durazzo, from Pausanias description of the Nemean Games in his Itinary of Greece by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Lamentation over the Dead Christ, by Antonio Canova, Detail by Antonio Canova")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-222967).jpg "Portrait Bust of Napoleon Bonaparte by Antonio Canova")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1080146).jpg "Maria Christina of Austria funerary monument by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1080146).jpg)
.jpg "Psyche brought back to life by Cupid")
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_Holy_Roman_Emperor_(marble)_-_(MeisterDrucke-260363).jpg "Portrait Bust of Francis I (1708-65), Holy Roman Emperor by Antonio Canova")
_Holy_Roman_Emperor_(marble)_-_(MeisterDrucke-260363).jpg)
_drawing_-_(MeisterDrucke-1117297).jpg "Study of male nude leaning on plinth by Antonio Canova")
_drawing_-_(MeisterDrucke-1117297).jpg)
 (see also 20019) - (MeisterDrucke-115366).jpg "Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Triumphant by Antonio Canova")
 (see also 20019) - (MeisterDrucke-115366).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-245796).jpg "Theseus and the Minotaur by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Apollo Crowning Himself by Antonio Canova")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-379670).jpg "Cupid and Psyche, 1794 by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-379670).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1514344).jpg "Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1514344).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-274133).jpg "Head of a Dancer, 1820 by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-274133).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-379241).jpg "The Return of Telemachus by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-379241).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-175560).jpg "Sleeping Nymph, c.1820-24 by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Cupid and Psyche by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Reclining Naiad by Antonio Canova")
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_-_Marble_statue_(h_172_cm)_by_Antonio_Canova_(1757_-_1822_-_(MeisterDrucke-1058474).jpg "Venere Italica by Antonio Canova")
_-_Marble_statue_(h_172_cm)_by_Antonio_Canova_(1757_-_1822_-_(MeisterDrucke-1058474).jpg)
_marble_sculpture_220_cm_height_-_(MeisterDrucke-1117632).jpg "Daedalus and Icarus by Antonio Canova")
_marble_sculpture_220_cm_height_-_(MeisterDrucke-1117632).jpg)
 1794 (pen and ink) - (MeisterDrucke-200982).jpg "Male Nude, Damoxenos of Syracuse, from Pausanias")
 1794 (pen and ink) - (MeisterDrucke-200982).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1457455).jpg "Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1457455).jpg)
.jpg "The Ancient Sculpture Apollo Crowning Himself - 1782 - Antonio Canova by Antonio Canova")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-951942).jpg "Hercules and Lycas (by Antonio Canova) by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-951942).jpg)
.jpg "The Three Graces by Antonio Canova")
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 (see al - (MeisterDrucke-254184).jpg "Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Cupid 1787-93 (marble) by Antonio Canova")
 (see al - (MeisterDrucke-254184).jpg)
 (see also 79618) - (MeisterDrucke-260230).jpg "Venus, lateral view by Antonio Canova")
 (see also 79618) - (MeisterDrucke-260230).jpg)
.jpg "Theseus and the Centaur by Antonio Canova")
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_white_marble_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088527).jpg "Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix by Antonio Canova")
_white_marble_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088527).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092760).jpg "Danae of Correggio by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092760).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-149058).jpg "Cupid and Psyche, 1796 by Antonio Canova")
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 (see also 698751) - (MeisterDrucke-219587).jpg "Dancer with Finger on Chin (plaster) by Antonio Canova")
 (see also 698751) - (MeisterDrucke-219587).jpg)
.jpg "Psyche brought back to life by the kiss of Amor ... by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Eros and Psyche by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "The Three Graces by Antonio Canova")
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_drawing_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088438).jpg "Female Figure with Arms Raised by Antonio Canova, Drawing by Antonio Canova")
_drawing_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088438).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1583093).jpg "Amor and Psyche by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1583093).jpg)
.jpg "Self Portrait by Antonio Canova")
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 (detail) (see also 698750) - (MeisterDrucke-158825).jpg "Dancer with finger on chin (detail) by Antonio Canova")
 (detail) (see also 698750) - (MeisterDrucke-158825).jpg)
 (see also 124326) - (MeisterDrucke-182939).jpg "Venus, Frontal View by Antonio Canova")
 (see also 124326) - (MeisterDrucke-182939).jpg)
_drawing_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094192).jpg "Study of Male Nude Seated on Podium by Antonio Canova")
_drawing_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094192).jpg)
.jpg "Amor and Psyche, 1808 by Antonio Canova")
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_or_Archpriest_Church_of_the_Holy_Trinit_-_(MeisterDrucke-1079933).jpg "Pronaos, Canova Temple or Archpriest Church of the Holy Trinity, designed by Antonio Canova, Possagno, Veneto, Italy by Antonio Canova")
_or_Archpriest_Church_of_the_Holy_Trinit_-_(MeisterDrucke-1079933).jpg)
 (see also 266965 and 266967) - (MeisterDrucke-246869).jpg "Three Graces, 1812-16 (marble) by Antonio Canova")
 (see also 266965 and 266967) - (MeisterDrucke-246869).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-282211).jpg "Monument to Vittorio Alfieri by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Mars and Venus by Antonio Canova")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-379245).jpg "Sons of Alcynous Dancing by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-379245).jpg)
_(marble)_(see_also_82132)_-_(MeisterDrucke-242016).jpg "Portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor Francis I (1708-65) by Antonio Canova")
_(marble)_(see_also_82132)_-_(MeisterDrucke-242016).jpg)
.jpg "Self Portrait by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Death of Priam by Tommaso Piroli")
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 (see also 266965 and 266966) - (MeisterDrucke-180630).jpg "Three Graces, 1812-16 by Antonio Canova")
 (see also 266965 and 266966) - (MeisterDrucke-180630).jpg)
.jpg "Self Portrait by Antonio Canova")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-379239).jpg "Socrates Drinking the Cup of Hemlock by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-379239).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1422623).jpg "Hercules Firing Arrows at his Children by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1422623).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088568).jpg "The Penitent Magdalene by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088568).jpg)
.jpg "Endymion by Antonio Canova")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1080843).jpg "Self portrait by Antonio Canova by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1080843).jpg)
_marble_sculpture_220_cm_height_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092762).jpg "Daedalus and Icarus by Antonio Canova")
_marble_sculpture_220_cm_height_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092762).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1058476).jpg "Venere Italica by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1058476).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1056107).jpg "Statue of Damoxenus, c.1800 by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1056107).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1117295).jpg "Cupid and Psyche by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1117295).jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-250087).jpg "Theseus Slaying a Centaur by Antonio Canova")
 - (MeisterDrucke-250087).jpg)
.jpg "Deposition of Christ by Antonio Canova")
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.jpg "Pauline Bonaparte by Antonio Canova")
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_white_marble_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088494).jpg "Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix by Antonio Canova by Antonio Canova")
_white_marble_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088494).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1081399).jpg "Letitia Ramolino Bonaparte by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1081399).jpg)
_model_in_clay_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094190).jpg "Venus and Adonis by Antonio Canova")
_model_in_clay_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094190).jpg)
_clay_model_-_(MeisterDrucke-1117630).jpg "Cupid and Psyche by Antonio Canova")
_clay_model_-_(MeisterDrucke-1117630).jpg)
_plaster_model_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088436).jpg "Venus Crowning Love by Antonio Canova, Plaster Model by Antonio Canova")
_plaster_model_-_(MeisterDrucke-1088436).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094169).jpg "Penitent Magdalene by Antonio Canova")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094169).jpg)
_model_in_clay_detail_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094172).jpg "Lamentation of Christ (detail) by Antonio Canova")
_model_in_clay_detail_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094172).jpg)
.jpg "Ajax, Back View, from the Works of Canova by Antonio Canova")
.jpg)
 - (MeisterDrucke-277720).jpg "Cupid and Psyche by Antonio Canova")
 - (MeisterDrucke-277720).jpg)
_terracotta_model_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092758).jpg "Monument to Titian by Antonio Canova")
_terracotta_model_-_(MeisterDrucke-1092758).jpg)
_model_in_clay_detail_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094171).jpg "Lamentation of Christ (detail) by Antonio Canova")
_model_in_clay_detail_-_(MeisterDrucke-1094171).jpg)
.jpg "Self-Portrait by Antonio Canova")
.jpg)
.jpg "Lamentation over the Dead Christ, by Antonio Canova, detail by Antonio Canova")
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