The foremost neoclassical sculptor of his age, Antonio Canova (1757–1822) is best known for his masterpiece The Three Graces, embodying in marble an ideal of feminine beauty. Descended from stonecutters, Canova was apprenticed to the sculptor Giuseppe Bernardi, quickly establishing his reputation for originality through works such as Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss. The idealism of his art, moving away from ornate baroque style, did much to increase the popularity of contemporary sculpture, and his skills were greatly acclaimed and in demand during his lifetime. The present work, first published in 1825 by the Scottish minister John Smythe Memes (1795–1858), is one of the many eulogistic works that appeared soon after Canova's death. Opening with a contextualising history of the development of modern sculpture, the book closely studies Canova's body of work and also contains a chronological catalogue of his creations with details of their owners and locations.
