Skip to main content

Bust of Antonio Canova (1757-1822): C.20-1977

Object information

Current Location: Gallery 26 (Lower Marlay)

Titles

Bust of Antonio Canova (1757-1822)

Maker(s)

Factory: Imperial Porcelain Factory

Entities

Categories

Description

Hard-paste biscuit porcelain bust showing the sitter facing front with head turned a quarter to his left, wearing a drape around his shoulders, supported on a circular glazed socle, with below the bust, the name CANOVA in gold a rectangular panel with gold edge. A gold band encircles the base of the socle.

Notes

History note: Uncertain before donor

Legal notes

Given by Countess Shelagh Rietberg

Measurements and weight

Height: 11.5 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Vienna ⪼ Austria

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1977) by Rietberg, Shelagh, Countess

Dating

19th Century, Mid#
Production date: AD 1844

Note

The sculptor Canova visited the Vienna porcelain factory in 1805.This bust is a reduction of a model attributed to Anton Grassi (1755-1807) which was produced shortly afterwards. An example sold by Christie's Geneva in November 1989 bore the date mark for 1806. An example dated 1808 is in the Osterreichischen Museum für angewandte Kunst, Vienna (Ke 76423)

School or Style

Neoclassical

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Sockle composed of glaze ( clear)
Decoration composed of gold
Socle Diameter 4.9 cm

Materials used in production

Hard-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Press-moulding : Hard-paste porcelain, press-moulded, partly glazed, and gilded

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: CANOVA
  • Location: On front below bust
  • Method of creation: Painted in gold
  • Type: Inscription

Inscription present: shield

  • Location: On inside edge of base of socle
  • Method of creation: Impressed
  • Type: Factory mark
  • Text: 844
  • Location: On inside edge of base of socle
  • Method of creation: Impressed
  • Type: Date mark
  • Text: G
  • Location: On inside edge of bae of socle
  • Method of creation: Impressed
  • Type: Mark

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.20-1977
Primary reference Number: 140163
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 19 October 2016 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Bust of Antonio Canova (1757-1822)" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/140163 Accessed: 2024-12-18 08:07:23

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/140163 |title=Bust of Antonio Canova (1757-1822) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-18 08:07:23|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-140163

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...