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A Pair of Grand Tour Carved Verde Antico Marble Lions, After Antonio Canova
$17,800
£13,523.61
€15,541.46
CA$25,002.28
A$27,214.36
CHF 14,419.91
MX$327,293.80
NOK 183,345.52
SEK 168,015.88
DKK 116,093.79
About the Item
A Fine Pair of Neoclassical Grand Tour Period Hand Carved Verde Antico Marble Figures of Recumbent Lions, After a Model by Antonio Canova (1757–1822)
Each lion is carved in verde antico Marble and rests upon a stepped rectangular plinth. One lion lies with its head raised, eyes open and alert, while the other reclines with its head resting on its forepaws in sleep. Both are depicted with extended forelegs, muscular bodies, and curling tails, their manes deeply carved in dense, flowing curls that contrast with the smooth polish of the serpentine surfaces. The modeling conveys weight and repose, evoking both strength and calm.
These sculptures follow the celebrated pair of marble lions created by Antonio Canova in 1792 for the tomb of Pope Clement XIII in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Canova’s originals, carved from Carrara marble, are masterworks of Neoclassical sculpture, distinguished by their naturalistic anatomy and idealized serenity. The present pair translates that composition into serpentine, a material prized in the 19th century for its deep green hue and fine polish, which enhances the sculptural detail and emphasizes the lions’ organic forms.
Canova’s lions became among the most admired and widely reproduced models of the 19th century, appearing in marble, bronze, and hardstone versions commissioned for palaces, villas, and museums across Europe. Notable examples include the pair at Chatsworth House, the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire. The enduring popularity of this design reflects its perfect synthesis of realism and ideal beauty. An almost identical Italian 19th-century pair, after Canova, was sold at Sotheby’s Important Furniture sale, Paris, 2021, confirming the continued reverence for Canova’s composition and its lasting place in the neoclassical sculptural tradition.
- Dimensions:Height: 6 in (15.24 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
- Style:Neoclassical (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1850
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU919547263622
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About Tomb of Pope Clement XIII
The artwork, titled “Tomb of Pope Clement XIII,” is a sculpture created by Antonio Canova in 1792. Belonging to the Neoclassicism art movement, this masterpiece exemplifies the genre of sculpture.
In the artwork, Canova masterfully arranges various sculptural elements to create a poignant and regal composition. The tomb consists of a carved effigy of Pope Clement XIII, situated in a reverent pose atop an elaborately adorned sarcophagus. The Pope’s figure is cloaked in flowing garments, kneeling in prayer, signifying his piety. Below, two imposing lions flank the monument, symbolizing strength and vigilance. An angelic figure, wings partially spread, gazes downwards with a sorrowful expression, embodying the eternal mourning for the departed. Adjacent to the angel, a robed woman stands, her somber posture accentuating the tomb’s solemn atmosphere. The architectural framework, with its towering columns and vaulted arch, adds to the grandeur and reverence of the entire composition, upholding the Neoclassical ideals of symmetry, order, and monumental form.
Later in life the Canova Lions were replicated, they are located in front of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C, these were cast in bronze from molds of the originals. The pieces were installed in 1860
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