Date
1819-1822
Object Type
Statue
Subject
Reclining Magdalene
Holding institution
Accademia di Carrara
About The Work
Antonio Canova’s work is listed by Lazzoni in his guide to the city of Carrara among the 'Gallery of Modern Works' at Palazzo del Principe. Until 2022, scholars considered this piece especially significant because, together with the model preserved in Possagno, it was believed to be one of only two surviving models of a marble sculpture thought to have been lost.
The original marble, carved by Canova in 1822 for the Duke of Liverpool, disappeared after a series of sales and changes of ownership and was long considered lost. In 2002, however, the sculpture resurfaced at an auction in London, where it was mistakenly sold as a "garden sculpture.” The buyers, unaware of its importance, placed it in their private garden. In 2022, the work was finally recognised as Canova’s original marble.
The original marble, carved by Canova in 1822 for the Duke of Liverpool, disappeared after a series of sales and changes of ownership and was long considered lost. In 2002, however, the sculpture resurfaced at an auction in London, where it was mistakenly sold as a "garden sculpture.” The buyers, unaware of its importance, placed it in their private garden. In 2022, the work was finally recognised as Canova’s original marble.
Title
MADDALENA GIACENTE
Creator
Antonio Canova
Subject
Reclining Magdalene
Object Type
Statue
Original Function
Didactic furnishing. Donation.
Date
1819-1822
Technique / Support
Cast
Dimensions
cm 77
Acquisition
Family Triscornia Gift
Holding institution
Accademia di Carrara
Bibliography
RUSSO S., CAROZZI R. (ed), La gipsoteca dell'Accademia di belle arti di Carrara, Massa, 1996. / BIZZARRI A., GIAMPAOLI G., Guida di Carrara, Carrara, 1932. / HUBERT G., La sculpture dans l'Italie napoléonienne, Paris, 1964. / CAROZZI R., I gessi di A. Canova: alcune lettere e precisazioni, in: BIBLIOTECA CIVICA DI MASSA, Annuario 1982-1983, Atti del convegno "Carrara e il marmo nel ‘700: Società, economia, cultura", Pisa, 1983. / DONATI P., Modelli in gesso di Antonio Canova, in: BIBLIOTECA CIVICA DI MASSA, Annuario 1982-1983, Atti del convegno “Carrara e il marmo nel ‘700: Società, economia, cultura”, Pisa, 1983.
Conservation status
Good
Restoration history
Restauro ABAC 2012/2013
Unique identifier
0900254647