After Antonio Canova, first quarter of the 19th century.

After ANTONIO CANOVA (Italy, 1757 - 1822).
Italian school, first quarter of the 19th century.
"Lions of Canova".
Pair of sculptures in marble.
Slightly chipped at the base.
Measurements: 20 x 43 x 12 cm. each one; 22 x 43 x 13 cm. (with pedestals).

Pair of lions in white marble, of great quality, inspired by the famous felines that the great neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova made in 1792 for the tomb of Pope Clement XIII in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

Each copy reproduces on a small scale the powerful presence of the originals, although adapted to a domestic or collector's format.

One of the lions is in an attitude of repose, with the body recumbent and the head bowed in a gesture of watchful calm. The other, in contrast, is more alert, with its head erect and its muscles slightly more tense, as if responding to an external stimulus. This dialogue of stillness and energy was already a feature sought by Canova in his original conception, where the animals symbolized the balance between vigilance and eternal rest.

The marble work highlights the plastic strength of the feline body: the anatomy is carefully described, with emphasis on the musculature of the limbs and the volume of the chest, which convey solidity and monumentality despite the reduced format. The mane, curly and abundant, is carved with a vibrant detailing that contrasts with the smoother surfaces of the body, achieving a rich alternation of textures.

These sculptures are part of a tradition of replicas and versions that since the 19th century have multiplied the fame of Canova's Lions, considered masterpieces of funerary neoclassicism. Outstanding examples of these copies can be found, for example, in front of the former Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. In short, these pieces condense in a manageable format the neoclassical spirit: the serene nobility of animal nature, the technical mastery of marble and the evocation of a canonical model of European sculpture.