Daedalus and Icarus by Antonio Canova

Daedalus and Icarus
1777-79
Neoclassicism
Marble
Museo Correr, Venice, Italy

Canova drew from a story told by the Greek poet Ovid in “Metamorphoses,” depicting the inventor and architect Daedalus and his son Icarus. Daedalus created the Labyrinth imprisoning King Minos of Crete’s stepson, the Minotaur, half man half bull. Daedalus helped Theseus slay the Minotaur and afterward was trapped in the Labyrinth with Icarus by King Minos. To make their escape Daedalus crafted wings made of wax and feathers and the two successfully flew off the island. Icarus, despite his father’s warnings, flew too close to the sun and the wax melted and he fell into the sea and drowned. Canova portrays Daedalus fixing the wings on his son’s shoulders.

Antonio Canova
Neoclassicism, Romanticism
Born: 1 November 1757, Veneto, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Died: 13 October 1822, Venice, Italy

Canova was a Neoclassical sculptor, particularly known for his marble sculptures. His sculpture was inspired by the Baroque and the classical revival; however, he avoided the melodramatics of Baroque and the cold artificiality of the classical revival