The Canova cabinet in the Correr Museum in St Mark's Square in Venice

Antonio Canova (1757- 1822) is certainly one of the most famous sculptors in the history of arts of all times and a source of pride for the city of Venice, which saw his beginnings and that was also the place of his death (in the house of the cafe Florian owner in Campo San Gallo).

The extraordinary and almost 'mythical' international reputation enjoyed by Canova during his life became after his death - in Italy and especially in Venice - a cult that united the value of art with popular sentiment of Italian Resurgence and national redemption expressed by him in actions and evocative works during his career. A singular pyramidal monument was erected for him in the Frati church (made by his students), where his heart was kept, whilst his right hand (which was separated from his body and kept in alcohol) was conserved for many years as a relic in a small shrine in the Academy of Fine Arts.

Of this 'Canova-mania' there is a bizarre testimony at the Correr Museum in Venice: the Canova Cabinet. It is a kind of furniture-shrine set up by the wealthy Venetian merchant Domenico Zoppetti to keep working tools, sketches, drawings (by mostly employees), original paintings (Canova loved painting and skillfully painted for pleasure), personal memorabilia, portraits, etc. Originally in the centre of the small museum created by Zoppetti at his home in Strada Nuova, the cabinet and the collections within it were given to the Civic Museums in 1849; dismantled in 1952, it was then reassembled with the full recovery of the carved ornamental parts (2015) and now stands in one of the rooms of the Correr Museum, recently reorganized to best glorify the famous sculptor.

The Correr Museum in Venice can be visited by buying the combined ticket 'The Museums of St. Mark's Square', which also includes a visit to the Doge's Palace, the National Archaeological Museum and the Monumental Rooms of the National St Mark's Rooms- that are all located in the beautiful surroundings of St Mark's. Upon request, our guides organize private itineraries at the Correr Museum, that can be planned taking into account your needs and interests that you wish to explore in more detail.