The Works of Antonio Canova (Volume 1 ); In Sculpture and Modelling, Engraved in Outline by Henry Moses with Descriptions (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1824. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. Antonio Canova was bom in 1757, at Possagno, a village situated amidst the Asolani hills at the foot of the Venetian Alps. Pietro, his father, and also Pasino, his grandfather, were sculptors of repute at that time, as their numerous productions attest, consisting chiefly of monuments, altars, and similar works consecrated to religious purposes, in the churches of that district. By the death of his father, Antonio become an orphan in the third year of his age, and his mother Angela Zardo marrying shortly afterwards, and returning to her native town of Crespano, the infant was left to the care of his paternal aunt, Caterina Ceccato, by whom he was affectionately nurtured. His mother had by her second marriage, his step-brother the present Abbate Giovanni Battisti Sartori. Deprived of his father, young Antonio was indebted for the rudiments of his art to his grandfather Pasino, who adopted the excellent method of teaching him early the familiar use of the implements of sculpture, employing him on the works on which he was himself engaged. By this useful discipline, his hand acquired mechanical skill, while his mind was growing to maturity, and he early possessed the advantage of being able to execute the rapid and instantaneous conceptions of his genius, with a corresponding facility. B It happened at this time that Giuseppe Bernardi, surnamed Torretto, nephew and pupil of old Torretto, who was one of the best of the Venetian sculptors, was staying for some years at Pagnano, a short distance from the villa of Asolo, where the patrician Giovanni Falier took so much pleasure in embellishing his palace with the works of contemporary artists. This nobleman observing the strong disposition of the youth for the arts, placed him with Torretto, with t...