Sculptural Group of "the Three Graces" in White Carrara Marble, 20th Century

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Sculptural Group of "the Three Graces" in White Carrara Marble, 20th Century

About the Item

Sculptural group of "The Three Graces" in white carrara marble 20th century Italy Measurements: 175 x 95 x 42 cm Important Note: Transport is understood via sea (sea shipping) and is understood up to the port of arrival. Delivery at the buyer's street door has a cost of € 2000 There is a personalized delivery service to high floors with a company specialized in assembling works of art. This service has a cost of €3500 - €7500, depending on the difficulty of delivery. Antonio Canova's work The Three Graces is a neoclassical-style sculpture group, in marble, of the three mythological charites, daughters of Zeus who represented joy, beauty and fertility. The Graces presided over banquets and gatherings primarily to entertain and delight the guests of the gods. They are identified in some engravings of the statue as (from left to right) Euphrosyne, Aglaya and Thalía. There are actually two versions of Canova's work: the first, commissioned by Josephine de Beauharnais, Napoleon's wife, is preserved in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg (Russia); the second, commissioned by an English nobleman, the Duke of Bedford, went on sale in 1994 and was acquired by two British institutions that alternately exhibit it, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the National Galleries of Scotland. versions John Russell, Duke of Bedford, visited Canova in his Rome studio in 1814 and there he was impressed by the first version of The Three Graces sculpted for Josephine de Beauharnais. The Empress died in May of that same year, so the Duke offered to buy the completed piece, but was unsuccessful as Josephine's son, Eugène de Beauharnais, claimed it. Undeterred, the Duke commissioned a second version. The first would be taken by Josephine's grandson, Maximilian de Beauharnais, to Saint Petersburg; it is now kept in the Hermitage Museum. The sculpting process for the second version began in 1814 and was completed in 1817. Finally in 1819, it was installed in the Duke's residence, Woburn Abbey Palace. Canova even made a trip to England to oversee its installation, choosing a marble plinth with a swivel top. This version is now owned jointly by the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Galleries of Scotland, after long and eventful negotiations. The descendants of the Duke of Bedford closed a sales agreement with the J. Paul Getty Museum in California, but following the requirements of British law, the export of the work was postponed for a few months to allow time for a possible counter-offer from national institutions. A popular subscription was opened to collect donations, which together with state contributions helped to retain the sculpture on British soil. Finally in 1994 it became co-owned by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the National Galleries of Scotland. The baron and collector Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza had made a substantial donation (close to one million euros), and as a sign of gratitude the sculpture was temporarily lent to him for his museum in Madrid. According to gossip, the baron supported the British counteroffer in part to hurt the Getty Museum, which he considered an enemy since they had rivaled each other in art auctions in the past. The Hermitage version is carved from veined marble and has a square pillar behind the figure on the left. The Woburn Abbey version now in London is carved from white marble and has a round pillar, with the central figure having a slightly wider waist. Perfect condition.

Creator:
Europa Antiques (Artist)
Dimensions:
Height: 68.9 in (175 cm)Width: 37.41 in (95 cm)Depth: 16.54 in (42 cm)
Style:
Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Carrara Marble,Hand-Crafted
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
20th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. perfect condition.
Seller Location:
Madrid, ES
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU5779233970632