Museum Gipsoteca Antonio Canova
The reason for this is the universal and profound amazement evoked by these life-size feminine figures carved from a single block of marble.
We can find the subject of the Graces in many paintings as well.
The Graces are the three daughters of Zeus and Oceanid Eurynome: Aglaea, goddess of splendor, Euphrosyne, representing joy and delight, and Thalia,embodying prosperity.
The sculpture is the supreme expression of the profound meaning and the main essence of Neoclassicism: it represents in an exemplary way the idea of beauty in a perfect shape.
In 1812 Ugo Foscolo wrote a poem dedicated to the sculptor Antonio Canova, who was working at the marble statue of the three Graces:Alle Grazie Immortali
le tre di Citerea figlie gemelle
è sacro il Tempio, e son d'Amor sorelle;
Nate il dì che a' mortali,
beltà ingegno virtù concesse Giove,
onde perpetue sempre e sempre nuove
le tre doti celesti
e più lodate e più modeste ognora,
le Dee serbino al mondo.
Entra ed adora.
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