Antonio Canova was born in Possagno in the province of Treviso in 1757 and is considered one of the world's greatest and most well known masters of sculpture. Regarded as the greatest Neoclassical artist, and hailed as "the new Phidias", Canova trained in Venice, lived and worked in Rome for much of his life, and travelled extensively throughout Europe.

His works can be admired all over the world! His most famous ones include Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss (exposed at the Louvre), The Three Graces, Hebe and Venus and Adonis. The quality and quantity of his works required great organisational and planning skills. Before starting the actual sculpture, Canova would draw the plan on paper or canvas then make technical corrections using small clay prototype models. Clay was then used to create a full-size sculpture which would finally be transferred to marble using the pointing technique. A huge task, resulting in.... eternal beauty!

Possagno is now home to the Canova Museum where visitors can explore the life of the genius who was born there.

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