Page "Antonio Canova" Paragraph 20

Canova's next undertaking was a monument in honor of Clement XIV ; but before he proceeded with it he deemed it necessary to request permission from the Venetian senate, whose servant he considered himself to be, in consideration of the pension.

This he solicited, in person, and it was granted.

He returned immediately to Rome, and opened his celebrated studio close to the Via del Babuino.

He spent about two years of unremitting toil in arranging the design and composing the models for the tomb of the pontiff.

After these were completed, other two years were employed in finishing the monument, and it was finally opened to public inspection in 1787.

The work, in the opinion of enthusiastic dilettanti, stamped the author as the first artist of modern times.