Exhibition promoted and organized by the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca as part of the celebrations for the bicentenary of the death of Antonio Canova (1757-1822) under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic

Care and organization : Claudio Strinati, Serenita Papaldo, Francesco Cellini, Laura Bertolaccini, Carolina Brook, Elisa Camboni, Fabrizio Carinci, Giulia De Marchi, Fabio Porzio

As part of the national celebrations for the two hundredth anniversary of Antonio Canova's death, the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca is dedicating an exhibition to the sculptor and the indissoluble bond he had with the Roman institution. Elected academician of merit in 1800, acclaimed prince in 1810, in 1814 he received the title of perpetual prince for his extraordinary role. Living in an era troubled by political upheavals, the Revolution first, the Napoleonic empire and the Restoration after, Canova was able to combine the institutional commitment in defense of Rome's monumental heritage with the promotion of contemporary arts. In this context, he placed the Accademia di San Luca at the center of the many artistic, archaeological and urban reorganization activities, in an unprecedented mix of skills.

The eight thematic sections that make up the exhibition retrace Canova's years, from his entry into the Academy in 1800 to his death in 1822, describing the artistic team and the cultural context in which the sculptor acted and bear witness to the profound renewal that Canova was able to impart to the institution, reforming the artistic teaching through the creation of new competitions for young people, updating the practices related to the restoration and protection of the ancient monumental heritage and the urban reorganization of Rome and promoting contemporary art.

“The aim of the exhibition – writes Claudio Strinati in the introduction to the short guide to the exhibition – is to clearly highlight how important Canova was for the Academy and how much the role he played in this high assembly of artists was extremely important for the city of Rome, for all of Italy and for the history of Fine Arts throughout the world, consecrating the authority and consequent authority of the Academy itself to the highest level. The prodigious work of Canova, passionate promoter of the Fine Arts and at the same time conservator of the ancient and modern artistic heritage, shines, culminating in the heroic enterprise of recovering the goods stolen by the Napoleonic armies. Let's see the story of the competitions organized by Canova admirably renewing a happy tradition. We understand Bertel Thorvaldsen's role towards common creative strategies. Let us better focus on some crucial works by Canova himself. The main peculiarity of the academic Canova of San Luca emerges from the exhibition, that of an essential point of reference for cultural policy, from the creation of the new to the protection of the ancient without a real caesura or discontinuity between one and the other sphere of action . An ideal and a practice that still have a lot to teach even to current generations”.

Free admission with reservations required subject to availability

The visit can be booked by email: [email protected] telephone contact: +39.06.6798850 (reception) or directly at the reception

Entrance shifts from Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00 11.30 13.00 14.30 16.00

Sunday and Monday closed

Extraordinary opening on the first Sunday of the month (May 7, June 4, July 2)

with accompanied visits at 17.00 and 18.30