#antonio-canova

#antonio-canova

One tenet of classical idealism is the idea that Roman and Greek statuary embodied an ideal of pure whiteness-a misconception modern sculptors perpetuated for hundreds of years by making busts and statues in polished white marble. But the truth is that both Greek statues and their Roman counterparts were originally brightly painted in riotous color.

Van Dyck's stay in Italy was pivotal to the development of his artistic language, above all because it accelerated his emancipation from the model of his master Rubens.

The veil covering Christ is extraordinary. It's impossible to understand how Sanmartino managed to create it. The veil defies explanation—for those who can see and for those who cannot. When you touch it, you can feel the veins pulsing beneath.

"Piano piano" is an old Italian saying that sounds nonsensical, but is actually full of wisdom, especially if you, like me, are finding yourself wishing away these frigid winter days and hoping spring and summer gets here fast. These days, I've found myself rushing from one thing to the next, frustrated at the smallest things, from post office lines to just missing my train. And I'm ready to make a change.

Unlike Rossetti's Pre-Raphaelite paintings of winsome maidens surrounded by flowers, the 1877 chalk portrait of his sister offers a flat, realistic impression. She wears an impenetrable expression and dull-colored clothing that blends into an unadorned background. The somber tone is the product of family tragedy: Christina remains in mourning following the death of her older sister Maria, a writer and Anglican nun, in 1876.

The Neptune of Lyon, one of the largest and most important bronze statues from Roman Gaul, has arrived in Rome for a one-time guest starring appearance at the Giovanni Barracco Museum of Ancient Sculpture. The statue is in the permanent collection of the Lugdunum Musee et Theatres Romains in Lyon, and is being loaned to the sculpture museum as part of an extraordinary exchange of ancient works between the two cities.

A signature view of Venice by Canaletto brought a strong price for the 18th century Italian master at Christie's on February 4, leading the Old Master week in New York. Hammering at $26 million, it sold for a total of $30.5 million including fees, just over its $30 million pre-sale estimate. Backed by a guarantee and irrevocable bid, it was sure to sell.