They buy a statue at auction to put in the garden, years later they discover it to be by Canova
Llove forart ah a thousand shades, sometimes just let the heart and sensitivity towards beauty, in the presence of which we find ourselves. This is what happened to a wealthy British married couple who decide to buy at auction for twenty years 5,220 poundsjust over 6,000 euros, one statue to put in their garden. The idea was what it was supposed to serve to embellish a corner of their garden, but the unsuspecting buyers did not understand who and what they were bringing homeEveryone could expect to find a piece of art history at home: after the purchase they discovered that it was the “Magdalene lying” Of Antonio Canova, a statue that was believed to have been lost for a century. The auction house at the center of this story could only be Christie’s, purchase price at the time set precisely at 5,220 Pounds
There Magdalene lying del Canova has been sought after by scholars for decades, so the discovery is of fundamental importance for l history of collecting and the history of art. The only testimony of the intense creative process of the Italian sculptor who was also a witness fundamental of his time. Antonio Canova, was born in Posagno, November 1st 1757, considered the highest exponent of Neoclassicism in sculpture he is nicknamed for this “The new Phidias”. Canova carried out his apprenticeship in Venice. In 179 he moved to Rome where he resided for the rest of his life: although he traveled often, mainly for stays abroad or to return to his native places, the city for him always represented a essential point of reference.
Loyal to Pope Pius VIIloved by the ruler Italian George IVa little less from Napoleon who made him search, in short, an Italian sculptor and painter stylist from the world of European collecting and of critical importance, for the return of the works of art seized under the French general. The rediscovery of the “lying Magdalene” concludes a very particular story that seems to be based on a novel. And it tells, precisely the story of a “marble“of enormous historical value, but above all, of great aesthetic beauty produced by Canova in the last years of her artistic activity“. To recognize the statue and to attribute it to the Treviso artist was the international director of sculpture a Christie’s, Donald Johnston. In the ritual interviews, he then told Reuters that “the face is absolutely typical of Canova but there are also other elements”, indicating “the way the feet are made, the hands, the way the fingers have a kind of sweet curve … They are very typical of Canova
But the story of this sculpture continues and comes from Christie’s auction house, which is preparing to to beat at auction the sculpture the next July for an estimated value between the 5 and 8 million pounds (between 6 and 9.5 million euros).
And with the hope that this time those who will take it home are well aware of what they bought!