Marble Sculpture Depicting Pauline Bonaparte, After Antonio Canova (1757–1822)

Marble sculpture of Pauline Bonaparte after Antonio Canova (1757–1822), Italy, 19th century.

This superb white marble sculpture depicts Pauline Bonaparte reclining in a graceful and sensual pose, directly inspired by Antonio Canova's famous model of Pauline Borghese as Venus Victorious, created in the early 19th century.

This work, sculpted after Canova, fully exemplifies the Neoclassical aesthetic for which the master was renowned: purity of line, perfect balance of proportions, soft modeling of the flesh, and remarkable finesse in the treatment of the face, hair, and drapery.

The white marble, most likely Carrara marble, is distinguished by its high quality, luminosity, and silky polish, revealing particularly meticulous sculpting.

The surface is in excellent condition, without any visible damage or restoration, which is remarkable for a work of this period. The sculpture rests on a base of veined marble with warm orange and pink tones, likely an Italian decorative marble (such as brocatelle or Alpine marble), which beautifully highlights the whiteness of the upper marble and lends the whole a presence that is both noble and decorative.

A signature “Canova” engraved into the stone is visible, a practice frequently found on 19th-century works created in homage to or after the great masters, without constituting an autograph signature, but clearly underscoring the artistic lineage and admiration for the original model.
A prestigious work: This sculpture is a very fine 19th-century Neoclassical interpretation, ideal for: a refined interior, a collection of classical art, a distinctive décor, or a connoisseur of great Italian sculpture.

It combines artistic quality, a strong decorative presence, and a direct reference to one of the absolute masterpieces of Western sculpture.