To commemorate the close and fruitful relationship between the most outstanding representative of neoclassical sculpture and the pontifical collection, the Vatican Museums, on the occasion of the bicentenary of his death, present the exhibition “Antonio Canova in the Vatican Museums”. Now open to the public, the “Salem of the Dames” will have a permanent display of plaster works by the artist, who held important official positions under the Pope, such as censor, director of museums, and after Napoleon’s plundering of art , played an important recovery role.
(Vatican News Network) Antonio Canova, who served the Pope for 40 years, was the undisputed protagonist in the sculpture world at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. He was hailed as the new Phidias during his lifetime. To commemorate the bicentenary of his death in Venice in 1822, the Vatican Museums held a grand commemorative event in his honor.
studio in rome
The exhibition will last until January and is located in several areas of the pontifical collection. In Hall 17 of the Vatican Gallery, a majestic bust of Pope Pius VII is on display, while also recreating the atmosphere of the sculptor’s studio in Rome.
Curator Alessandra Rodolfo said that in 1783, the sculptor chose a building in the center of Rome as the location of his studio. Once a popular destination for Grand Tour travelers, it also attracted artists eager to learn the master’s valuable teachings. He was particularly concerned about young people in trouble and personally helped them through secret charity methods.
Ethics, Art and Diplomacy
“We can consider ethics, art and diplomacy to be Canova’s three main qualities,” explains the art historian, some of which were discovered in 2010 in a warehouse in the Vatican Gallery and, after expert restoration, are now in One of the most exquisite rooms in the Vatican Museums, the “Dame Room”, is on display and has until now been closed to the public.
The “Dame Hall” was built by Pope Paul V between 1608 and 1609. It faces the gardens and the fountain built by the pope himself and is decorated with paintings by Guido Reni about Ceiling frescoes of “The Pentecost”, “The Transfiguration” and “The Ascension”.
important official position
Atta, director of the Vatican Museums, who was directly involved in the planning of the exhibition, explained, “We dedicated this precious room to Antonio, located at the junction of the Raphael Room and the Sistine Chapel, near the exit of the Map Gallery. · Canova. We would like to show you our love and attention for Antonio Canova, who was Director of the Pontifical Museum, Director of Antiquities and Inspector of Antiquities, and whose role he played during the Napoleonic occupation and the Restoration Critical.”
Artwork recovered from France
This refers to the event in which Napoleon brought works of art to Paris, where they were placed in the Louvre Museum for twenty years under the Treaty of Tolentino in 1799. Atta recalled: “This was the moment when Canova was canonized as a hero, not only for recovering the works of Raphael, Perugia, Caravaggio and restoring the papal restoration, but also for works of antiquity and tradition, as well as the value of our culture and the culture of the Pope. The Pope valued his organizational talents, spirit of service and passion for the protection and preservation of artistic heritage, entrusting these tasks to his supervision. The Vatican Museums want We are grateful to this extraordinary man and that is why we are commemorating him.”
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2023-10-25 14:04:15