A LOST MASTERPIECE
The copy of an unusual monument to George Washington is actually displayed in the Rotunda of the North Carolina State Capitol. It dates back to 1970 and represents the first president of the United States, sitting on a stool and wearing an ancient Roman armor.
It is a reproduction of a masterpiece by the great Italian sculptor Antonio Canova: his only work created for the US, now unfortunately lost forever.
Let’s discover its amazing story…
The original statue by Canova arrived in Raleigh in 1821 and was installed on Christmas day: this represented a highlight for the American public statuary, but not really the first statue dedicated to George Washington. For example, a more traditional one had been produced by Jean-Antoine Houdon and is still visible in the Virginia State Capitol. On that occasion, the artist had the opportunity of meeting Washington himself in Mount Vernon, taking a face mask, and even measuring the limbs of the former president! Therefore, Houdon’s statue is quite resemblant to its model, still living at the time.
On the contrary, Antonio Canova only knew George Washington by reputation and from a bust located in Italy. So, the artist needed to have much recourse to his own imagination to celebrate the Founding Father of the US independence.
THE BACKGROUND OF A GENIUS
Antonio Canova was born in Possagno, a small village in the Republic of Venice. Though his humble origins, his talent had bewitched the European nobility, whom he portrayed in elegant classical poses and looks. Through his art, soon princes, generals, socialites were transformed into the divinities and heroes of his very sensual new Olympus. His works of art are actually treasured in the most important museums all over the world, and often considered as part of their immovable heritage. Though Antonio Canova was a living legend, the fact of being selected for depicting Washington was not to be taken for granted anyway, as several other names had come to mind at the same time. Canova‘s consecration can be found in a letter sent by Thomas Jefferson to senator Macon, who had consulted him, also due to Jefferson’s Art expertise and knowledge of the Palladian architecture.
The Sage of Monticello had determined that only Antonio Canova could produce such a monument, that had to be made of pure Carrara marble (the most precious and expensive one). The statue had to represent Washington as an ancient Roman general, about to retire to private life.
When asked to create a sculpture for the United States, a country that he fondly admired, Antonio Canova was thrilled and eager. Canova’s masterpieces required a long and accurate process made of several steps to obtain the final, perfect result, and George Washington’s monument was no exception. The whole work took five years to be completed then.
FROM ITALY TO NORTH CAROLINA, STEP BY STEP
The artist first produced some drawings, then a tiny pottery model, as a theoretical representation of what had first inspired him. At a first glance they don’t look that beautiful, but they were extremely useful to the sculptor for manufacturing the first small plaster model, which is still preserved in the Canova Museum of Possagno in the Venetian mainland. The artist made then a nude, to better study the pose of the further life-sized plaster model, that gave life to the final marble sculpture destined for Raleigh.
Though representing modern personalities in Roman clothing was not a new idea, the resting pose created by Canova was definitely innovative. So George Washington was eventually represented like a sitting Roman general, wearing an armor and with a dagger at his feet, that symbolizes peace conquered after hard times. He is communicating his People his will to abandon power. This is both a traditional and a definitely new way of representing a politician and a warrior such as Washington was. No horse, no modern clothing, no fighting: just the Man seen as an experienced intellectual, who is aware of having built a nation, and who’s quietly giving up his third mandate.
Term limits for American presidents were not set by law from the start indeed: George Washington voluntarily decided to decline a third term, as this had not been enacted in the Constitution. His gesture was considered as a safeguard against the absolute power that featured the British monarchy in that era. After a few other cases of American presidents refusing to run for a third term, the two-terms limitation was finally ratified only in 1951.
Coming back to Canova’s sculpture, once finished it traveled to the US on a war ship and was welcomed in Raleigh in 1821.
After only ten years, a fire destroyed the building where the work of art was, and this beautiful, intelligent and unique creation was lost forever. Just a few pieces blackened by smoke were saved, but they were too damaged to be restored.
THE POSSAGNO’S MODEL
The only existing trace of the life-sized Canova’s George Washington is its model then, that still survives in Possagno’s spectacular museum.
Possagno is worth a visit with an expert tour guide, because it treasures Canova’s models of other famous works such as Cupid and Psyche, the Three Graces, the laying Paolina Borghese and many others.
It’s a place I love because one really feels the period and the mentality that inspired those works and their extraordinary creator.
Last but not least, Possagno is also located in the Prosecco Land, not far from other landmarks such as the Palladian Villas and the lovely town of Bassano del Grappa.
See and book my tour in the Prosecco Land here (Possagno can be added on demand)