_-_n._5547_-_Venere_di_Canova_(Firenze).jpg)
TheVenus Italica is amarble sculpture commissioned byNapoléon Bonaparte and fashioned by Italian sculptorAntonio Canova. Canova finished the original work in 1802 and modelled two further variants which he completed in 1819.[1] The work was to serve as a replacement for theVenus de Medici sculpture, a copy of anantique work by Cleomenes of Athens, which had been seized, taken to France and placed in theLouvre in 1802 by orders of Bonaparte.[2] After Napoleon's abdication theVenus de Medici was returned to Italy on 27 December 1815 and is since on display in theRoom of Venus in theGalleria Palatina at thePalazzo Pitti inFlorence.[3][4]
Early 19th century president of theAccademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (Florence Academy of Fine Arts) Count Giovanni degli Alessandri encouraged the ingeniousNeoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova to create a copy of theVenus de Medici.[5] Canova approved and set to work on theVenus Italica, which is considered to be one of his masterpieces in both, artistic conception and craftship.
According to art criticEdward Lucie-Smith the artistic expression of sexual vulnerability is conveyed better than on the originalVenus de Medici. Most viewers have noticed Canova's superior craftmanship on marble surfaces and textures. His unique technique and ability to achieve the illusion of human flesh has been called theDirect touch. Canova would eventually begin to display his studio works in candlelight. Intrigued by the effects of the light and shade of the candles on the translucent marble surface Canova soon began to further soften the transitions between the various parts of the statue and rub them down with special tools and pumice stone, sometimes for weeks or months.[6] Finally he would apply an unknown compound ofpatina onto the flesh of the sculpture to lighten the skin tone. This process has been called theLast touch.[7][8][9][10]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)