antonia canova, pauline borghese as venus victrix

Question 1

year

Answer 1

1805-1808

Question 2

material

Answer 2

very high quality marble, elevates status of peice and connotes purity to sitter

Question 3

what was the process used

Answer 3

-numerous prepatory sketches

-models form into life aize clay version

-cast a plaster model of clay model (which he marked up with points that were transferred to a marble block0

-assistants would carve marble into shape with a chisel (canova sculpted the form

-he polished the marble with wax to create a fine finish

Question 4

what was the significance of canavas attention to detail and strenuous process

Answer 4

created a humanistic likenessnto the soft texture of skin (naturalism increases intimacy beween sculpture and spectator)

Question 5

who is the figure depicted

Answer 5

Pauline Borghese

napoleans wayward sister who was married to camillo borghese (an italian prince) she was 25 at the time

Question 6

who was paulines husband

Answer 6

camillo borghese

Question 7

formal analysis (how is she depicted, what is she doing etc)

Answer 7

semi-nude, life size reclining woman (nude portraits were unusual for the time)

-reclines on a pillowed couch depicted in a pose of studied grace (concentrated and relaxed at same time)

-her fingers on her right hand are slightly connected to the nape of her neck (suggestive)

-head raised slightly like someone entered line of vision

hair is a mass of curles with careful texture (recalls greek art)

Question 8

significance of the mass of curls on her head

Answer 8

-shows technical mastery

-recalls ancient greek art (adds status and further likens her to Venus)

Question 9

what are the classical features of this peice

Answer 9

marble

defined curly hair

nude (reclining nude)

Question 10

what is the texture of the sculpture like

Answer 10

polished with wax for smooth and human like skin

chisels and undercutting used to make the masses of curled

Question 11

how can we identify venus

Answer 11

in the guise of venus (revival of classical art)

apple identifies her as venus (as the goddess was waraded a golden apple in the judgement of Paris that she was more beautiful than minerva and Juno)

erotic and seductive pose

Question 12

couch

Answer 12

carved from a diffret type of marble- cushions and linens on couch are very naturalistic

rhythmically bflowing drapery on base of couch

Question 13

style

Answer 13

neoclassical (canova was leading influence of thus style)

influenced by ancient greeks and romans (based off of archelogical studies of Pompeii)

Question 14

influences

Answer 14

greek statuary (sensuous pose, mythical themeand semi nudity recall hellenistic works like venus de milo

inspired by works he acquired for the Vatican

titans venus of Urbino

Question 15

why did she marry camillo borghese

Answer 15

to enhance napoleans claims to italy

Question 16

what happened to pauline in 1804

Answer 16

became the imperial french princess when napolean established himself as first governer of france

Question 17

where did she pose for this

Answer 17

rome

Question 18

why di pauline pose so promisuisly when it was frowned upon, why does she depict herself as venus

Answer 18

proud of her body (mweant to be depicted as Diana but pauline insited on Venus)

was depicted as venus because of her promiscuous reputation
wanted to align her beauty to venus’s
flaunts status likening her to a goddess

Question 19

who was the patron

Answer 19

camillo borghese in honour of his wife after marriage

Question 20

how was intimacy heightened at display

Answer 20

gaze, nudity, candlelight with wax and polish finish