Antonio Canova (1757 Possagno - 1822 Venice) after "The Three Graces". Original title White marble. Base in marbled painted wood. On a rectangular plinth, next to a stele with a garland of flowers, the embracing Graces Thalia, Aglaia and Euphrosyne from Greek mythology as seductive, beautiful young nude figures with long, skilfully coiffed hair. The group, skilfully composed for a frontal view and turned towards the viewer, shows the three figures, modelled on antique figures, with finely and softly modelled bodies. The large, sculpturally subtle group of sculptures was modelled on the famous work by Antonio Canova created in Rome, of which two versions have survived: the first from 1813-1816 originally commissioned by Joséphine de Beauharnais (the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte), now in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg; the second from 1814-1817 for John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, now in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The group is considered to be the main work of Canova, the important master of classicism who achieved international fame beyond Italy. Marble sculpture approx. 130 cm x 75 cm x 39 cm; plinth h. 42 cm. Total h. approx. 172 cm. White Carrara marble sculpture of the "Three Graces" after Antonio Canova (1757-1822).