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Portrait of an unidentified man thumbnail 2
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Portrait of an unidentified man

Relief
1786 (made)
Artist/Maker
Canova, Antonio (sculptor)
Place of origin
Rome (made)

The identity of the sitter remains unknown, but the fact that it is signed by Canova suggests it was a work of some note. It may have been a portrait of a friend of the sculptor, and was perhaps intended to form part of a larger sepulchral monument. On acquisition, it was thought this relief may have depicted Julius Caesar. However, later study of the relief ruled out this suggestion, as the portrait is not related to any known depictions of the Emperor.

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read Antonio Canova – an introduction Italian sculptor Antonio Canova (1757 – 1822) is considered the leading figure of the Neoclassical style, inspired by the sculptures of Ancient Greece and Rome. His sculptures such as 'The Three Graces' and 'Theseus and the Minotaur' were praised for their idealised beauty and their calm y...

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Portraits
Reliefs
Object type
Relief
TitlePortrait of an unidentified man (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble
Brief description
Relief, marble, Portrait of an unidentified man, by Antonio Canova, Italian, 1786
Physical description
Relief in mable of the head of a unknown man. A loose drapery round the shoulders.
Dimensions
  • Height: 52.5cm
  • Width: 42cm
Marks and inscriptions
"CANOVA FECIT 1786"
Gallery label
(2021)
Antonio Canova (1757–1822)
Relief portrait of an unidentified man
Signed and dated 1786

Canova signed this relief but the identity of the sitter is not known. He may have been a friend of the artist and the work was perhaps intended to form part of a funerary monument. Like Theseus and the Minotaur nearby, this is one of Canova’s earliest works. He later became the most celebrated sculptor in Europe and the most influential Neo-classical artist of his time.

Rome
Marble
This is signed by Canova, but the identity of the sitter remains unknown. He may have been a friend of the sculptor. The work was perhaps intended to form part of a funerary monument.
Subject depicted
Man
Summary
The identity of the sitter remains unknown, but the fact that it is signed by Canova suggests it was a work of some note. It may have been a portrait of a friend of the sculptor, and was perhaps intended to form part of a larger sepulchral monument. On acquisition, it was thought this relief may have depicted Julius Caesar. However, later study of the relief ruled out this suggestion, as the portrait is not related to any known depictions of the Emperor.
Bibliographic references
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. London, 1932. p. 167.
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: HMSO, 1964. cat. no. 703. fig. no. 697.
  • Hughes, P. Catalogue of Furniture. The Wallace Collection. I. London, 1996. Introduction, fig. 4.
  • Cook, R., Martin, G. Preliminary investigation into discolourations occuring in white marble. Recent advances in the conservation and analysis of artifacts: University of London Institute of Archarology Jubilee conservation conference. July 1987. pp. 359-364.
  • Pavanello, G. L'opera completa del Canova. Milan, 1976. p. 94-95. cat. 45.
  • Cf. Watson, F. J. B. Lord Hertford and the Musée Retrospectif of 1865. Apollo. 81. 1965. p. 437.
  • Luigi Coletti (ed.), Mostra Canoviana (exh. cat. Treviso, 15 september -10 november 1957), Treviso, 1957, p. 38, repr. (as Canova, Potrait of Caesar).
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.34-1928

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Record createdAugust 14, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O127045/portrait-of-an-unidentified-man-relief-canova-antonio/
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