The Three Graces, Canova's first version, now in the Hermitage Museum

Antonio Canova’s statue The Three Graces is a Neo-Classical sculpture, in marble, of the mythological three charites, daughters of Zeus – identified on some engravings of the statue as, from left to right, Euphrosyne, Aglaea and Thalia - who were said to represent beauty, charm and joy. The Graces presided over banquets and gatherings primarily to entertain and delight the guests of the Gods. As such they have always proved to be attractive figures for historical artists, notable amongst them are Botticelli and Thorvaldsen. For other uses, see Liverpool (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The Pier Head is a riverside location in the city-centre of Liverpool, England. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (864x1152, 261 KB) Photo notes: Title: The Three Graces Location: Hermitage, St. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (864x1152, 261 KB) Photo notes: Title: The Three Graces Location: Hermitage, St. ... The State Hermitage Museum (Russian: ) in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of the largest museums in the world, with 3 million works of art (not all on display at once), [1] and one of the oldest art galleries and museums of human history and culture in the world. ... Self-portrait by Canova, 1792. ... Late Baroque classicizing: G. P. Pannini assembles the canon of Roman ruins and Roman sculpture into one vast imaginary gallery (1756) Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that... Sculptor redirects here. ... For the game of graces, see Game of graces. ... In Greek mythology, Euphrosyne (IPA pronunciation: ) was one of the Charites, known in English also as the Three Graces. Her best remembered representation in English is in Miltons poem of the active, joyful life, LAllegro. She is also the Goddess of Joy. ... Aglaea is the name of five figures in Greek mythology // The youngest of the Charites, Aglaea or Aglaia (splendor, brilliant, shining one) was Hephaestus wife and Asclepius daughter in Greek mythology. ... For other uses, see Thalia (disambiguation). ... Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli (little barrel) (March 1, 1445 – May 17, 1510) was an Italian painter of the Florentine school during the Early Renaissance (Quattrocento). ... Bertel Thorvaldsen, portrait by Karl Begas, c. ...

Versions of the piece

John Russell, the 6th Duke of Bedford, commissioned a version of the now famous work. He had previously visited Canova in Rome based studio in 1814 and had been immensely impressed by a carving of the Graces the sculptor had made for the Empress Josephine. When the Empress died in May of the same year he immediately offered to purchase the completed piece, but was unsuccessful as Josephine’s son Eugène claimed it (his son Maximilian brought it to St. Petersburg, where it can now be found in the Hermitage Museum). Undeterred, the Duke commissioned another version for himself. John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (6 July 1766 - 20 October 1839) was a younger son of the Marquess of Tavistock (eldest son and heir of the 4th Duke of Bedford who had died during the lifetime of his father). ... This article is about the nobility title. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... Joséphine de Beauharnais, Empress Joséphine Joséphine de Beauharnais (June 23, 1763 - May 29, 1814) was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and became Empress of France. ... Eugène Rose de Beauharnais (September 3, 1781 - February 21, 1824) was the first child and only son of Joséphine de Tascher de la Pagerie and Alexandre, Vicomte de Beauharnais. ... Maximilian Joseph Eugene Auguste Napoleon de Beauharnais (2 October 1817 Munich - 1 November 1852 St. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and... The State Hermitage Museum (Russian: ) in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of the largest museums in the world, with 3 million works of art (not all on display at once), [1] and one of the oldest art galleries and museums of human history and culture in the world. ...

The sculpting process began in 1814 and was completed in 1817. Finally in 1819 it was installed at the Duke’s residence in Woburn Abbey. Canova even made the trip over to England to supervise its installation, choosing for it to be displayed on a pedestal adapted from a marble plinth with a rotating top. This version is now owned jointly by the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Galleries of Scotland, and is alternately displayed at each. The layout of Woburn before partial demolition. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... A statue of Henry IV of France on a pedestal Pedestal (from French piedestal, Italian piedestallo, foot of a stall) is a term generally applied to the support of a statue or a vase. ... Plinth of the Sign of the Kiwi, Dyers Pass, Port Hills, Christchurch (NZ) c 1917 - Collection: Christchurch City Libraries Hoysala temple on plinth Look up Plinth in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the worlds largest and finest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4. ... The National Galleries of Scotland are: The National Gallery of Scotland The Royal Scottish Academy Building The Scottish National Portrait Gallery The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art The Dean Gallery The Partner Galleries are: Duff House Paxton House See Also The Playfair Project ...

The version in the Hermitage is carved from veined marble and has a square pillar behind the left-hand figure (Euphorosyne). The Woburn Abbey version is carved from white marble and has a round pillar, and the central figure (Aglaea) has a slightly broader waist.

By the time he had been commissioned by the Duke, Canova had already enjoyed an illustrious sculpting career. Born in the Italian province of Treviso in 1757, he was educated by his grandfather and his artistic talent was quickly noticed, especially by a Senator by the name of Giovanni Falieri who introduced him to the sculptor Torretto, who he would apprentice for two years. Treviso is a town in the Veneto region of Italy. ...

The Three Graces, alternate view, Hermitage Museum

Canova went on to enjoy small commissions, but his fame did not come until 1780 when he travelled to Rome and found himself inspired and invigorated by the scope and quality of the art and architecture. During this time Canova produced some of his most revered works including: "Theseus and the Minotaur" (1782), his monument to pope Clement XIV (now displayed in the basilica dei Santi Apostoli) and the masterminding of the sumptuous tomb of Clement XIII in St. Peter’s. In 1793 he produced the seminal Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, a piece of immaculate composition and flowing beauty. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (864x1152, 296 KB) Photo notes: Title: The Three Graces Location: Hermitage, St. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (864x1152, 296 KB) Photo notes: Title: The Three Graces Location: Hermitage, St. ... The State Hermitage Museum (Russian: ) in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one of the largest museums in the world, with 3 million works of art (not all on display at once), [1] and one of the oldest art galleries and museums of human history and culture in the world. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... Theseus and the Minotaur is a type of logic maze designed by Robert Abbott. ... Pope Clement XIV Clement XIV, né Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli (SantArcangelo di Romagna, October 31, 1705 - Rome, September 22, 1774) was pope from 1769 to 1774. ... Baroque ceiling. ... Clement XIII, né Carlo della Torre Rezzonico (Venice, March 7, 1693 - Rome, February 2, 1769) was pope from 1758 to 1769. ... Antonio Canovas statue Psyche Revived by Cupids Kiss, first commissioned in 1787, exemplifies the Neoclassical obsession with love and emotion. ...

In 1802, he was requested to go to Paris by Napoleon I where he modelled an enormous figure of the emperor clutching a ‘Victory’ in his hand. He would also model a bust of the French leader as well as a statue of his mother. The fact that these pieces represented only a fraction of his works during this period, make his dual commissions to sculpt the Graces understandable. For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... A bust can be one of: Bust (sculpture), a sculpture depicting a persons chest, shoulders, and head, usually supported by a stand. ...

The sculpture for the Duke of Bedford was based on depictions of the Graces Canova had previously made. These include a painting in 1799, other drawings and a relief of the Graces is also known to have been executed by him around the same time. John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (6 July 1766 - 20 October 1839) was a younger son of the Marquess of Tavistock (eldest son and heir of the 4th Duke of Bedford who had died during the lifetime of his father). ...

In 1810 he modelled a terracotta sketch (now in the Musée de Lyon, France). But it is likely that his piece for the Empress Josephine and later the Duke was modelled mainly on the early drawings and a terracotta sketch model. Certainly we know that the immediate model for the work was a full-scale plaster group that has survived and is now to be found in the Canova museum in Possagno, Italy. In the version presented to the Duke of Bedford the graces are shown to be leaning on a pillar, though in earlier versions this feature was absent. Terra cotta is a hard semifired waterproof ceramic clay used in pottery and building construction. ... Joséphine de Beauharnais, Empress Joséphine Joséphine de Beauharnais (June 23, 1763 - May 29, 1814) was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and became Empress of France. ... Possagno is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about 60 km northwest of Venice and about 35 km northwest of Treviso. ...

The Three Graces: the Duke of Bedford's version

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 800 pixels, file size: 75 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 800 pixels, file size: 75 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

Artistic technique and effect

The piece itself is carved exactingly from a single slab of white marble. Canova's assistants roughly blocked out the marble, leaving Canova to finish the final carving and shape the stone to highlight the Graces’ soft flesh. This was a trademark of the artist, and the piece shows a strong allegiance to the Neo-Classical movement of which Canova is the prime exponent in the field of sculpture. The lines are exquisite, refined and elegant. For other uses, see Marble (disambiguation). ... Late Baroque classicizing: G. P. Pannini assembles the canon of Roman ruins and Roman sculpture into one vast imaginary gallery (1756) Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that...

The three goddesses are shown nude, huddled close together in embrace, their heads almost touching in what many have referred to as an ‘erotically charged’ piece. They stand, leaning slightly inward – perhaps discussing a common issue, or simply enjoying being close to one another. Their hair-styles are all similar, with the hair braided and held on top of their heads in a knot. “Haircut” redirects here. ... KNOT is a commercial Classic Country music radio station in Prescott, Arizona, broadcasting to the Flagstaff-Prescott, Arizona area on 1450 AM. Query the FCCs AM station database for KNOT Radio Locator Information on KNOT AM radio stations in the Flagstaff-Prescott, Arizona market (Arbitron #151) By frequency: By...

The style is elegant and suggests refinement and class – there is a delicate beauty to them that is commonplace in Canova’s sculpture. Art historians have often commented on the peaceful balance that seems to exist between the Three Graces’ heads. Unlike compositions of the Graces, which were derived from antiquity (where the outer figures turn out towards the viewer and the central figure embraces her friends with her back to the viewer) - Canova's figures stand side by side, facing each other. For beauty as a characteristic of a persons appearance, see Physical attractiveness. ... “Ancient” redirects here. ...

The three slender female figures become one in their embrace, united by not only their linked hands, but also by the scarf which links all of them together. The unity of the Graces is one of the piece's main themes. In the version of the piece commissioned by Countess Josephine, the Graces are stood on a sacrificial altar adorned with three wreathes of flowers and a garland symbolizing their fragile, close ties. A wreath is a ring made of flowers, leaves, and sometimes fruits, used as an ornament, hanging on a wall or door, or resting on a table. ...

Neo-Classisism and the Baroque

Canova’s work challenged the baroque conception of beauty as vaguely obese and shows the Graces as nubile, svelte young women. Though this is not the only departure the piece (and indeed Canova’s body of work) makes from the Baroque. If one is to look at the sculpture of Bernini for example, the viewer is presented to a stark moment in time: a snapshot. A fine example of this is in his work of 1644, 'The Ecstasy of St. Theresa', which shows the moment the holy spirit pierces Theresa's heart, leaving her in what can only be described as ecstasy of divene presence. It is a dramatic, poignant scene captured by Benini at the very moment of greatest impact. Canova’s work, however, is different. For other uses, see Baroque (disambiguation). ... Nubility is the state of being marriageable. ... Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini (Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini; December 7, 1598 – November 28, 1680) was a pre-eminent Baroque sculptor and architect of 17th century Rome. ... , by Gian Lorenzo Bernini The Ecstasy of St Theresa (alternatively St Teresa in Ecstasy or Transverberation of St Teresa) is a marble masterpiece sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which is part of his complete architectural design, construction, and decoration the Cornaro Chapel of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome completed...

His pieces do not seem to possess any real sense of time, they merely exist at a point in the past – almost ghostly reminders of a mythological happening, or person long deceased. In the case of the Graces he dispenses with theatrics and invites the viewer to make what they will of the scene. This is typical of the Neo-classical movement in sculpture especially and art generally. In many respects this work was a departure and has since become regarded by many as a benchmark of beauty. Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ... Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture. ... A benchmark is a point of reference for a measurement. ...

External links

• The Hermitage Museum, home to the original Three Graces
• Very big picture of the Three Graces in the Hermitage
• V&A photo and description
• V&A Audio Talk Art - The Three Graces (embedded mp3 file, 1m 26s)
• V&A Behind the Scenes: Transporting the Three Graces
• "Apple Juice in Paris" equivalent "Three Graces", general study