Bust
- Place of origin:
Italy (made)
- Date:
early 19th century after 1812 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Canova, born 1757 - died 1822 (sculptors)
- Museum number:
A.46-1930
- Gallery location:
Sculpture, room 22, case NWAL
In Greek mythology Helen was the daughter of the god Jupiter and was famed for her great beauty. She was married to Menelaus the King of Sparta. Whilst her husband was away, Helen was abducted by the Trojan prince Paris, to whom she was later married. So began a long war between the Greeks and Trojans. A number of other versions of this head are known, one of which is in the Palazzo Albrizzi in Venice. It was seen by the poet Lord Byron in 1812, who wrote:
‘In this beloved marble view
Above the works and thoughts of Man,
What nature could, but would not, do
And beauty and Canova can!’
Another version is in the collection of Lord Londonderry, having been presented to Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, later 2nd Marquess of Londonderrry, in 1816 (see 'Canova Ideal Heads', ed. K. Eustace (exh. cat.), The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1997, pp. 84-5, cat. no. 4).
