Description

The original drawing (tempera on paper), which can be seen in the Museo Civico of Bassano, depicts exactly as ours shown here a young girl dressed in ancient style (in pure Neoclassical fashion), her hair softly arranged in a bun, as she is throwing little bones (astragali) to the ground. Behind the two slender nymphs, radiant with grace, two small putti are visible: one holds a palm on which a red ribbon and a golden hoop (like a diadem) are hung – probably symbolizing the prize for the winner; the other, sitting on the ground, holds astragali in his tiny hands and plays with them as a child would.

These Canova drawings present their figures against a dark background, directly evoking certain themes of Pompeian and Herculaneum wall painting. The drawing belongs to a series, the pieces of which are now housed in various museums, and from which engravings were also made, like the one we present here.

Canova in fact had a collection of 30 plates produced, comprising three complete series, under the title Catalogo di stampe delle composizioni graziose ed eleganti, engraved on a black ground after the example of Herculaneum paintings.

1. The Muses with their poets and philosophers, Minerva and Apollo. Pensieri di Antonio Canova. A series of ten etchings, engraved by Michele Torres, Giovanni Martino de’ Boni, Domenico Marchetti, Angelo Testa, and Luigi Cunego. Published in Rome by Calcografia Camerale between 1811 and 1812.

2. Nymphs and Graces in dancing games. Pensieri di Antonio Canova. A series of ten plates (to which our shown artwork belongs), engraved by Luigi Cunego, Angelo Testa, Giovanni Petrini, and Giovan Martino de’ Boni, between 1810 and 1813. The prints reproduce eight temperas and two additions from Possagno, selected by Pavanello.

3. Dancers. Pensieri di Antonio Canova. A series of ten plates. The engravings faithfully follow the temperas preserved in Canova’s birthplace in Possagno, which Pavanello called “Dancers.” By Giuseppe d’Este, Giovanni Martino de’ Boni, and Luigi Cunego, probably between 1809 and 1814.

So the characteristics of the engraving presented here:

Engraver: Angelo Testa (1775 – 1830)

Inventor: Antonio Canova (1757 – 1822)

Title: Giocatrici di astragali

Out of the series: Nymphs and Graces in dancing games. Pensieri di Antonio Canova

Date: 1811

Canova was a central figure in Roman culture of the 19th century. In 1800 he was elected a full member of the Academy of San Luca, in 1810 made a duke, and from 1814 became perpetual duke. His role in the history of the figurative arts of Rome, of all Italy, and indeed of the world, was of extraordinary significance.

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