Antonio Canova, born on November 1, 1757 in Possagno and died on October 13, 1822 in Venice, was an outstanding Italian sculptor and is considered the most important representative of Italian classicism.
At the age of 14, Canova began his apprenticeship with the Venetian sculptor Giuseppe Bernardi. In 1775, he went into independent practice and created one of his first works: a statuary group depicting Eurydice and Orpheus. This work was commissioned and is now housed in the Museo Correr in Venice.
In 1779, Canova moved to Rome, where he lived as a guest of the Venetian ambassador. There, he quickly established himself as a successful artist. After Rome was occupied by French troops in 1798, Canova returned to his homeland. In 1802, he was admitted to the Académie des Beaux-Arts as a foreign member in recognition of his artistic achievements.
