The works of Antonio Canova Volume 1; in sculpture and modelling, engraved in outline by Henry Moses with descriptions
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Sculpture
The works of Antonio Canova Volume 1; in sculpture and modelling, engraved in outline by Henry Moses with descriptions Details
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824 Excerpt: ...of Hercules, gave promise of what was effected in the maturity of his powers. While still a youth he read with great delight the beautiful fictions of Grecian Mythology; among which the pathetic story of Orpheus and Eurydice powerfully awakened his sensibility, and prompted him to attempt a representation of that subject. He accordingly modelled and executed the statue of Eurydice, in his sixteenth year, and that of Orpheus about two years after, for the Venetian patrician Giovanni Falier, a name occurring so frequently and honourably in the history of Canova; and they are at present the valuable and interesting ornaments of the villa Falier near Asolo. These statues he worked in soft stone, while yet only aided by that vivid and profound sense of beauty and truth, with which nature had so largely endowed him; and Ei)rydice And Orpheus. before his genius had been excited and developed, by the contemplation of the great models of antiquity. The figure of Eurydice is powerfully expressive of the terror with which she is seized at this fatal moment: she raises her arm as if imploring succour, but her countenance is marked with a full consciousness of her fate, and with the most hopeless grief; her hair falling wildly over her shoulders adds to the distraction of her aspect. The effort is well expressed by which she endeavours to advance, while she is irresistably drawn backwards by a hand reaching out of the smoke and darkness. This figure is evidently a youthful effort, but is valuable from its expression, the deep sentiments it involves, and the hopes which it gave of future excellence. The Orpheus, which so soon succeeded it, shews the rapid progress of the young sculptor: the design and finish of the limbs are better, and the countenance has a nobler expre...
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