Venus Italica

Antonio Canova

probably ca. 1822–23, variant of marble first executed 1810 · Carrara marble · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Canova's first marble Venus is in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence. Known as the Venus Italica, it was ordered in 1804 by Ludovico I, King of Etruria, as a replacement for the ancient Medici Venus that had been taken by the French for the Musée Napoleon. This replica, purchased from Canova's studio by the third marquess of Londonderry in late 1826 or early 1827, remained in Londonderry House, London, until 1962.

Artist

Antonio Canova

Date

probably ca. 1822–23, variant of marble first executed 1810

Medium

Carrara marble

Culture

Italian, Rome

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Bequest of Lillian Rojtman Berkman, 2001