Stock No: 15903

A rare 19th century marble statue of the muse Terpsichore, after Antonio Canova. Terpsichore was the muse of creative inspiration, and here she is identified by the lyre on which she leans.

Canova was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte's brother to create this idealised portrait of his wife Alexandrine de Bleschamp as Terpsichore. The commission was then acquired by Giovanni Battista Sommariva, a politician and notable patron of the arts. Under his patronage, the sculpture was no longer required to resemble Alexandrine and so the sensual sculpture took on the deified form of the muse. He collected three marble sculptures by Canova for his villa and also acquired the plaster model for Terpsichore so it could not be reproduced whilst under his ownership. Sommariva sent the sculpture to Paris in 1813, where is was exhibited at the Salon to great acclaim.
Copies of this statue are very rare.

French, late 19th century. Carved from pure white statuary marble. With restorations.

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