Pauline Borghese (née Bonaparte), Princess Borghese (1780-1825) sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, as Venus

Location

Country: France
City: Paris
Place: British Embassy

This sculpture of ‘Pauline Borghese as Venus Victrix’ is a half-length version of Antonio Canova’s original work of 1805-08, now in the Galleria Nazionale della Villa Borghese, Rome. The Government Art Collection (GAC) version is thought to have been made by Canova’s pupil, Adamo Tadolini (1788-1868), and is usually on display in the entrance hall of HM Ambassador’s Residence in Paris, a building which was formerly occupied by Pauline herself. The white marble, semi-nude portrait sculpture shows Pauline reclining on a couch of gilt and painted wood. Canova’s depiction of Pauline became one of the most famous sculptures of its day. A similar work by another of Canova’s pupils, Raimondo Trentanove (1792-1832), was formerly in the music room at Stowe House, Buckinghamshire, and an example of the many smaller versions, which may have been sold in Rome as souvenirs, is also held in the GAC (Ref: 0/60).

Antonio Canova was born in the Veneto and apprenticed there to a local sculptor. In 1768 he moved to Venice, where he studied casts of antique statues and established a studio. His move to Rome in 1780 enabled him to study classical monuments and brought him into contact with scholars and connoisseurs. He was made a Cavaliere by the Pope in 1801, by which time he was one of the most famous and sought-after artists in Europe. The following year he was called to Paris by Napoleon and embarked on a series of portraits of the Bonaparte family. In 1800 he became a member of the Accademia di San Luca, the main artistic institution in Rome. He was elected its President in 1810 and Perpetual President in 1814. He died in Venice, aged 64.
Adamo Tadolini studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Bologna, with another future pupil of Canova, Giacomo di Maria (1762-1838). Tadolini later entered Canova’s studio in Rome, where he assisted with numerous sculptures. He is generally considered the most gifted of Canova’s pupils and is particularly known for his statues of ‘Charles III’ in Naples, and ‘St Paul’ and ‘King David’, both in Piazza de Spagna, Rome. He exhibited two busts at the Royal Academy in London, in 1830 and 1853.

People

Pauline (née Bonaparte), Princess Borghese Borghese (1780 - 1825)

Places

Subjects

female portrait, woman, nude, Roman mythology, chaise longue, cushion

Materials & Techniques

marble, wood, marble sculpture, carved

Artist

Antonio, (after) Canova
Adamo Tadolini (1788 - 1868)

Title

Pauline Borghese (née Bonaparte), Princess Borghese (1780-1825) sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, as Venus

Date

Medium

Marble and carved wood sculpture

Dimensions

height: 53.50 cm, width: 99.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Spink through donations from Lord Forte and Lord Sieff, 1988

Provenance

With Spink; from whom purchased by the Government Art Collection (with donations from Lord Forte and Lord Sieff) in 1988; the pedestal (designed by Alec Cobbe; not including the original couch made of painted and gilded wood) was commissioned and presented by Sir Ewen and Lady Fergusson in 1990

GAC number

16759