Meet Terpsichore

“The Muse Terpsichore” by Antonio Canova (1757–1822) is the precious original plaster model made for the marble sculpture representing the muse of dance commissioned by Sommariva in 1811.

Born as a portrait of Alexandrina Bleschamps, wife of Napoleon’s brother, Lucien Bonaparte, the sculpture acquired a more idealized physiognomy following Sommariva’s will. This plaster is a real masterpiece for the its plastic art, especially in the drapery; it’s still nowadays characterized by the ‘repère’, small nails, very useful instruments in the creative process of Canova’s art.

With a sketch, the artist developed the idea of a sculpture; thanks to this first idea he realized two models, one in reduced scale, generally in terracotta and after this a bigger model that allowed him to deepen the study of the composition.

The next step was the realization of a life-size model in clay and after this the definitive model, in plaster; in the key-points of such a model some small nails were hammered in, in order to give to the Canova’s scholars the necessary points of reference to copy the sculpture in the marble. The hard work done, Canova finished the sculpture.