The Three Graces: Antonio Canova

Antonio Canova (1757-1822)suffers not only from having been overlooked, but from the superabundance of praise, indeed outright worship that was meted out to him by his contemporaries and the majority of subsequent fellow-sculptors, connoiseurs, and aesthetics throughout the 19th century. Canova was for them the quintessential sculptor and in all respects, until perhaps the maturity of Rodin, the role model of all aspiring scupltors. This catalogue was published to accompany the firt time ‘The Three Graces’ has been shown in Scotland. ‘The Three Graces’ was executed in 1815-17 for the 6th Duke of Bedford for Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire.