Dedalus and Icarus

The work was commissioned by Pietro Vettor Pisani and paid 300 sequins. It was awarded a prize at the Venetian Fiera della Sensa Exhibition. In this work Canova experimented for the first time the transfer from the plaster to the marble. The two figures are knowingly positioned in space. Daedalus with a doubtful look, fixed eyes and knitted brows attaches Icarus’ right wing using wax and Icarus in turn smiles naïvely and looks with admiration at his aged father.