Thursday, April 30, 2020

The Fogotten Pietro Canonica

Today I would like to show some of the works by Pietro Canonica that I liked the most. He created many interesting sculptures that I saw at the Villa Borghese in Rome. 
Pietro Canonica was an Italian sculptor, he lived in 1869-1959.
Villa Borghese is a great place with buildings, cottages, sculptures, many plants and flowers, amazing ponds with fish and turtles. One of the buildings houses the Canonica's House-Museum. 
When Canonica gained big success he moving to Rome and participated in important national and international exhibitions in Milan, Venice, Paris, London, Berlin, St. Petersburg.
I was not familiar with this sculptor, and his works were a discovery for me. The pleasant discovery. Some of his works are devoted to portraits of famous people of Europe, of children of noble European families.

The Abyss, marble, 1909 
'The image of the two is a representation of passionate love that drags into its fatal vortex, the abyss. '

Princess  Irina Yussupov Romanov, bronze 1910


Mario, marble, 1920 

The Conquest of Smyrna, the Monument to Kemal Ataturk, bronze, 1932

The Month of March, marble, 1900

 William Arthur marquis of Tichfield, marble, 1904



St. Paul of Tarsus and a Crucified Christ, marble, 1920


Monument to emperor Alexander II of Russia with portraits and commemorative works, marble, 1904




Modesty, marble, 1920



Two monuments: Alpine soldier and the mule
to mountain warfare cops of the Italian Army, bronze, 1940


In 1937 Canonica managed to obtain the concession to renovate Villa Borghese. In exchange of the promise to donate his artworks to the city of Rome, he was allowed to use the historical building as home and studio, which he repaired and decorated at his own expense. It is believed that Canonica in his portraits was able to capture the psychology of the persons and fix them like in a firm photographic image.
What do you think about these works? Did you like something?

21 comments:

  1. Some very enigmatic works here, Nadezda. In North America we are sadly lacking in statuary.

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    1. I agree David. There are a huge number of museums in Italy, this one was a surprise for me, it is located in the Villa

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  2. Thank you again, Nadezda, for a very interesting post.
    Canonica's works are incredibly lifelike... classic sculpture with a modern twist. :)
    My favourite is "The Month of March". I would really, really love to have an objet d'art like that - and a good place for displaying it. :)
    Happy spring & stay safe and well!

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    1. Good choise, Sara :-) Sure you would have a nice place for this sculpture.

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  3. Hello Nadezda!
    Thank you for sharing this beautiful art! I have never seen any of them before.
    Have a very nice day and month!

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  4. I had never heard of Canonica. His work is very good. I like them all. The frieze is especially wonderful. Almost like a dream.
    The Conquest of Smyrna is good too showing a warrior woman. Makes me feel strong just looking at her. :) Have a great weekend.

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    1. Glad to hear Lisa that the work of art makes you stronger, this is wonderful in these hard times.

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  5. No lo conocía, me ha gustado todas las obras, especialmente La conquista de Esmirna. Besos y te deseo mucha salud.

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    1. Me alegra que te haya gustado este grupo escultórico, Teresa.
      Te deseo un buen domingo.

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  6. Like you I had never heard of Canonica before. His work is quite breathtaking, the abyss is real and frightening in spite of it being immobile marble.

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    1. The abyss is the sculpture that most often illustrates his work Friko. I liked the children's portraits.
      Take care!

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  7. Dear Nadezda!
    I've never heard of this artist. He created magnificent marble sculptures. I am delighted with them.
    Hugs and greetings.

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    1. I agree, Lucja his works are amazing.
      Hugs!

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  8. Beautiful sculptures, I especially liked the first one.
    Thanks for sharing I didn't know the artist.
    Take care and be well



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    1. The abyss is the most well known of his works Maria. Glad you liked it.
      Stay healthy.

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  9. I didn't know the artist so it was very enjoyable to see the sculptures you have highlighted here, thank you.

    All the best Jan

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  10. Gracias por compartir esta estupenda exposición Nadezda. Son fantásticas. Pero de todas me quedo con ese abrazo que se ve en la primera, ahora que tanto lo deseamos.
    Cuidate amiga
    Un abrazo.

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