" Woman at Her Toilet, " after Canova, is an alabaster sculpture depicting Aphrodite emerging from her bath , holding her flowing drapery to reveal one breast. Surprised in her nudity, her gaze turned to the left, she modestly lifts her drapery to conceal her nakedness. Her hair, adorned with curls, is held back by a ribbon. At her feet, a four-legged lion's paw seat is partially concealed beneath her drapery. The statue is based on Antonio Canova "Venus Italica" (housed in the Pitti Palace in Florence). It draws inspiration from classical Greek statues, adopting the canons of proportion in the body while incorporating greater refinement. In 1801, Napoleon Bonaparte expelled the Consul from Florence and demanded the Medici Venus, a Greek sculpture dating from the 1st century BC. Faced with this loss, the city of Florence commissioned Antonio Canova a few years later to create a statue to replace the lost ancient masterpiece.

Late 19th century

Circa: 1890

Dimensions: L:15cm, W:15cm, H:50cm.

Condition report : Some chips on the base. Natural crack on the right foot.