Antonio Canova: A Sensualist Finds Religion at Metropolitan Museum of Art

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Ken Johnson

“The Creation of the World,” included in “Antonio Canova: The Seven Last Works.”

NEW YORK---Antonio Canova (1757-1822) produced some of the sexiest sculptures in the history of European art. A good example is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s European sculpture court: “Reclining Naiad,” a life-size marble representation of a fit young woman lying naked on a sheet over a bearskin, her most impressive feature being her exquisitely supple backside. But if that’s how you think of this artist, you may be shocked by the museum’s exhibition “Antonio Canova: The Seven Last Works.” [link]

Metropolitan Museum of Art: “Antonio Canova: The Seven Last Works” (Ends April 27); 1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street), New York; metmuseum.org