19th and 20th Century Sculpture
19th and 20th Century Sculpture
Auction Closed
July 10, 03:03 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
AFTER ANTONIO CANOVA (1757-1822)
FRENCH, CIRCA 1845-1865
THE HOPE VENUS
bearing the signature: CANOVA / Sculpt and inscribed: GRAUX - MARLY. / F DE BRONZE Paris.
bronze, dark brown patina
135cm., 53⅛in.
Heinrich Ueberall (1869-1939), Berlin;
given by the above as collateral to the Dresdner Bank, Danzig;
sold by the Dresdner Bank to the Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (inv. no. B II 76) in 1935;
restituted by the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz to the heirs of Heinrich Ueberall in 2019
B. Maaz (ed.), Nationalgalerie Berlin: Das XIX. Jahrhundert, Bestandskatalog der Skulpturen, vol. I, Leipzig, 2006, pp. 150-151, no. 157
The fine bronze is a reduction of Antonio Canova's celebrated Hope Venus, which was commissioned from the sculptor by the great patron of the arts, Thomas Hope (1769-1831), in Rome in 1816/1817. The original marble is now in the City Art Gallery, Leeds. Like many of Canova's models, the Venus enjoyed significant popularity across Europe in the 19th century. The present bronze was cast in Paris by the Graux-Marly foundry, which was active from 1845 but ceased production before 1864.
The present lot was restituted by Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz to the heirs of Heinrich Ueberall in 2019, together with the painting Sarah brings Hagar to Abraham by Matthias Stomer, which is being offered in Sotheby’s Old Masters Evening sale on 3 July (lot 25).