34
Antonio Canova (Possagno, 1757 - Venezia, 1822)in the way of
The Boxers, 19th century
Black patinated bronze
24 x 15 x 7 cm; 26 x 15 x 7 cm
This pair of bronzes is taken from the famous sculptures created by Canova now in the Vatican, in the Belvedere courtyard, Pio Clementino Museum.
The two boxers represent Creugas and Damoxenus, two athletes who fought in the Nenaean Games and, having remained tied, faced each other by striking a single blow. The second, by deception, plunged his outstretched hand into the side of his opponent, killing him.
Pius VII purchased the first from Canova to replenish part of the Napoleonic plunder, and commissioned the second from the sculptor to complete the pair. The plaster casts are now in the Possagno plaster cast gallery, but some copies were made and sent to Europe to make the subjects known.
The two bronzes under examination are revised copies of the two boxers; in fact, the trunks that gave stability to the two marble sculptures are missing and they present minimal differences in the details.
We can consider nineteenth-century fusions of good quality linked to the grand tour taste.
€ 800,00 / 1.000,00
Estimate
440,00 €
Starting price
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Live auction 329
Placquettes, Medals, Sculptures and Ceramics from the 14th to the 19th century
Palazzo Caetani Lovatelli, wed 5 March 2025
SINGLE SESSION 05/03/2025 Hours 15:00