Terpsichore lyran

Canova, Antonio (1757-1822)

Item type:

sculpture

Date of creation:

1816

Height:

177.5 cm  (69 7/8 in.)

Width:

78.1 cm  (30 3/4 in.)

Depth:

61.0 cm  (24 in.)

Technique / Medium:

marble

Additional titles

Description

From the Cleveland Museum website: "In Greek mythology, Terpsichore was one of the nine Muses, or goddesses of creative inspiration. The lyre, Greek inscription on the short column, and the caduceus (entwined snakes) on the side, identify the figure as Terpsichore Lyran, muse of lyric poetry. The Muses are also the subject of a series of large paintings by Charles Meynier in the adjoining gallery. This sculpture began with a commission from Napoleon's brother, Lucien, for an idealized portrait of his wife, Alexandrine. Canova made this version for a British aristocrat and exhibited it in 1817 at the Royal Academy in London to great acclaim.

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Lyre [3501] (5 pegs on the crossbar indicate 5 strings.)

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

RIdIM record id

1781