Antonio Canova

Antonio Canova (1757–1822) was an Italian sculptor whose marble works helped define Neoclassical sculpture. Drawing on ancient Greek and Roman art, he developed composed figures, clear outlines and carefully finished surfaces without simply reproducing antique models. Mythological groups such as Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss combine idealised bodies with a carefully arranged encounter between figures. Portraits and funerary monuments extended his practice into remembrance and public identity. His finished marbles began with exploratory clay models, in which rapid changes of pose and grouping helped establish the design. These studies preserve the active process of invention behind the calm appearance of the completed work.