1807.] 
guides to direct its efforts? Canova ex- 
bibited, in every part of his new- work, 
marks of inexperience and indecisicn, 
with regard to expression. Though this 
monument was mutinitely superior to those 
in which the ecclesiastical style bad pre- 
dominated, ue it would appear unwor- 
thy of its author, ir, the 
the age in which it was executed did not 
wtoue, m the eyes of the criuc, fur a 
part of its detects, 
This mausoleum is placed over the en- 
france of the sacristy. The whole pre- 
sents, as usual, a pyrwuidal group. Mo- 
deration and Benevolence are mourning 
over the sarcophagus of the pentiti, whose 
linage is répresented in a sitting posture, 
decorated with the customary insiguia. 
The pope is represented giving his bene- 
hen On, Moderation, \ ho is distingitish- 
ed by ie paige which serves for her at- 
tribute, clinmeg over tiie sarcophagus ; 
bat her (ee appears rather in the atti- 
tude of her body, than in that simple and 
unaffected expression, which is produced 
by profound sorrow. Benevolence, who 
is represented on the left side of the sar- 
cophagus, seems as indifferent to this 
scene as the allegorical sheep which re- 
poses at her feet. The drapery oi the 
Hgures is thrown at random; in syme 
parts, it sits close to the body, while ia 
others it is collected into a multitude of 
sinall folds, without grace or design. The 
fizure of the pope is ; destitute of digmity ; 
his right hand, which is extended, joke 
rather in the act of sca ittering SOMEL thing 
in the air, than of giving a benediction, 
From this monunent Canova at least 
gained micre experience, and his taste be- 
gan to distinguish the object which he 
ought to exert himself toattain. He bad 
modelied i in clay the group of Cupid and 
Psyche. He received a commission from 
jn cae ish gentleman to execute it in 
marble, bnt the war broke out in Italy, 
and prevented its being sent away. It 
was purchased by Prince Murat, and is 
bow in his guilery, at Neuilly upon the 
Seine. 
itis worthy of remark, that from this 
group the public began to form a Just 
idea of the original taste of the artist, 
while it would appear that,-in the exe- 
gation of such a subject, he had only to 
‘follow the models with which antiquity 
furnished him. The choice of the sub- 
ject was perfectly adapted to the nature 
of his genius, which tended, in preference, 
to the. expression of the soft, tender, and 
sentimental expressions; and if Canova 
Symetimes scared inte a sublimer sphere, 
3t , 
Account of the Life and Works of Canova, 
spe ete of 
47] 
and his chisel produced pathetic and ter- 
rible situations, the genius of the art did — 
not always approve the ambition of his 
efforts, and led him by this reserve to a 
choice of subjects in which he lavished 
upon bin his highes st favours, 
Psyche, reclined on the ground, ap- 
pears exhausted with the labours imposed 
upon her by the inflexible Venus, Cu- 
pid is striving to sooth her distress by his 
tender caresses. ‘Phere is more art than 
real beauty in this group. The idea is 
ree ed from a picture found at Hercu- 
laneum, popreneaans a aun caressing @ 
Nyimph, who is lying down, and inclining 
his head to kiss her. Cupid i Is OR bis 
knees, close to Psyche, and is stoeping to 
give her a kiss, wile Psyche extends 
both her hands to hold his head. This 
Situation, which is rather natural and gay 
than sentimental, does not seen adapt- 
ed to the su bject of the artist’s choice. 
It is besides better suited to the compo- 
sition of a picture than to a work of sculp- 
ture; the entwining of the arms, and the 
iconvenient position of the heads, pro- 
duce, under the chisel, a very indifferent 
effect; aud in whatever point of view you, 
examine the group, there is not one in 
which it is presented in a satisfactory 
manner, and in whidh you remark, at the 
same time, the expression of- tenderness 
waich ought te animate both faces. 
Canova strives;by the kind of polista 
which he gives to his works, to produce 
in the spectator an impression corre- 
sponding with that which the subject of 
his compositions ought toimspire. -He 
gives to the marble the appearance of a 
soft and delicate substance, and when it 
has received the last polish, by means of 
the pumice-stone, he makes use of a mor- 
dant, to diminish its whiteness, and te 
give it somewhat of a yellowish tint. The 
connoisseurs who love to find ia statue 
the beauty of the form designed with the 
utmost possible purity, do not appreve of 
this process, by which it would seem tobe 
hupaired; but it is expressly calculated 
to heighten the pleasure of the amatear, 
who is more susceptible of Siasiaue) 
and frequently measures the perfection 
ofa work by the degree of satisfaction 
which it affords him. 
The performances of Canoes which 
succeeded this group were: the portrait 
of the young Polish Prince Sarlorshy, 
and the group of Venus and Adonis: 
The young prince 1s represeutes A under 
the figure of ¢ upid, armed with bis baw. 
and arrow. ‘The artist. has ayes very 
successful in tle mild and lovely expres. 
SIOn 
