Famous Neoclassical Sculptures [Neoclassicism In Art]
This article introduces a few of the most well-known sculptures in the Neoclassical style. These include the Monument of Józef Poniatowski by Bertel Thorvaldse,
Venus Victrix Sculpture by Antonio Canova, and Portrait of Peter the Great by Marie-Anne Collot. The neoclassical sculptures are not as well-known as sculptures from other periods, such as the Greek Classical era.
Monument of Józef Poniatowski by Bertel Thorvaldse
The Monument of Józef Poniatkowski, also known as the Prince Józef Poniatowski, is located in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace at Krakowskie Przedmiecie in Warsaw.
It was sculpted by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, who lived and worked in Rome in 1829. Thorvaldsen was commissioned to create the piece in 1829. The statue portrays Poniatowski riding a horse and holding a sword.
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The sculptor did not receive a welcoming reception, since the project was unpopular with the public. The monument of Poniatowski was once the political symbol of Poland.
It was designed by Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen and was the inspiration for many artists, writers, and composers. It was a symbol of Poland's political awakening in the post-World War II era. Today, the monument has become a prominent landmark in the city.
Venus Victrix Sculpture by Antonio Canova
Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix is a semi-nude life-size reclining neo-Classical portrait sculpture by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova. The sculpture portrays the French revolutionary as a beautiful woman who is both regal and seductive.
It has been the subject of several biographies, including that of Pauline Bonaparte herself. The neoclassical Venus Victrix sculpture by Antonio Canova is the largest of its kind. It depicts the goddess Venus as a goddess who possesses the power of love.
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Canova originally intended to sculpt the statue of Pauline as Diana, but changed the name to Venus to better reflect the true spirit of her subject. Pauline was the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte and the new wife of Prince Camillo Borghese.
Pauline Bonaparte commissioned the sculptor to carve a statue of her as Venus Victrix in 1805. She was only twenty-five years old at the time and already an infamous socialite.
Napoleon was the Emperor of France by 1804 and she was expected to become Imperial Highness.
Canova chose Greek mythology for the theme of the statue, a subject that he had previously avoided. The famous sculptor chose to portray Paolina as Venus in the same manner as the Roman goddess Diana.
The statue was later moved to Genoa and then finally arrived at the Galleria Borghese. The original model, Paulina, was dressed in the Venus costume for her role in the Paris Judgment.
She exaggerated her social status and popular magnificence by wearing this Venus costume.
Mercury Attaching His Talaria by Jean-Baptiste
The painting Mercury Attaching His Talaria by Jean Baptiste Pigalle was made in 1740. It depicts the god Mercury sitting on a rock, tying his winged sandals.
The composition is dynamic; the torso and limbs are twisted upward, and the weight of the left leg and shoulder create a powerful impression of imminent action.
The Academy of Fine Arts in Paris requested a life-size version of Mercury for its 1744 membership exhibition.
Jean-Baptiste conceived and executed the piece in marble and was accepted as a full member of the Academy in July 1744. The image's popularity was immediately apparent; Voltaire compared it to the finest Greek sculpture.
Its image was reproduced in paintings by numerous artists. Even the Sevres Porcelain Factory began producing a small-scale porcelain version in 1770.
Portrait of Peter the Great by Marie-Anne Collot
The bronze horseman, a sculpture of Peter the Great, is another famous work by Collot. Etienne-Maurice Falconet was the sculptor of the bronze horseman. Collot was responsible for designing the statue's head.
During her lifetime, Collot would produce several other masterpieces, including several of the famous busts of Peter the Great. But her most famous work, "Portrait of Peter the Great by Marie-Anne Collot," is still one of her most beloved works.
The Fury of Athamas by John Flaxman
"The Fury of Athamas" is a marble sculpture by John Flaxman and it represents a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses. This piece was commissioned by the Earl Bishop in 1785 and later confiscated by Napoleon's troops.
It was subsequently bought back by the Hervey family. Flaxman's designs became a great source of inspiration for many artists, including those of his contemporaries, and were studied in the 19th century by art students.
Flaxman was a talented sculptor and was one of the leading figures of British and European Neoclassicism. His early work includes the memorials of Thomas Chatterton, the 4th Earl of Bristol (1730-1793), Mrs. Morley in Gloucester Cathedral (1784), and Rev.
Thomas and Margaret Ball in Chichester Cathedral (1785). His most popular works include memorial bas-reliefs in churches throughout England.
His monument to George Steevens, which was seized by Napoleonic troops during a campaign in England in 1798, is in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
Hebe by Antonio Canova
The classical figure of Hebe was extremely popular in 19th and 20th century Europe. Many sculptures depicted Hebe, often in the form of temperance.
Artists such as Antonio Canova, John Gibson RA, and Bertel Thorwaldsen were renowned for creating versions of this popular figure.
This masterpiece was the most famous of Canova's works and the subject of numerous sonnets and poems. Because of its uniqueness, it became the inspiration for many budding neoclassical sculptors. Canova created several variations.
Later versions substituted the clouds with a tree trunk, and she was also given a necklace and crown. In general, the first version is the most widely admired, but there are numerous versions of the work.
Hebe by Antonio Canova is an impressive representation of the goddess Hebe. He was trained by Bernadi in classical art and nude form drawing, which was popular at the time.
The artist also sought inspiration from Scottish painter Gavin Hamilton. A study of Canova's works reveals that the artist adapted Greek techniques in the pursuit of his antique style.
