Bust of Antonio Canova

The author of this work is Luigi Zandomeneghi, born in the province of Verona in 1779. Zandomeneghi trained in Venice, where he worked as an assistant in a sculptor's workshop and attended evening classes at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Having become a professor of sculpture, he had many commitments: his works were in fact highly appreciated and were part of the "Neoclassicism" movement, which was inspired by the models of ancient, Greek and Roman art.
In 1822 he received an important assignment from the University of Treviso: he had to create a marble bust of Antonio Canova, the greatest neoclassical sculptor, who died in October of that year. Zandomeneghi had met him directly and had long admired his works, both in Venice and in Rome.
For this particular occasion, Zandomeneghi created a basic bust, devoid of clothing and other details; Canova's face is severe, his gaze concentrated and his features are realistically defined.
Together with a commemorative medal and the performance of a sung opera, Zandomeneghi's bust was presented in Treviso in a solemn ceremony on 1 April 1823.