Long Lost Antonio Canova Sculpture Discovered

A marble statue, initially purchased at a garden sale for a modest £5,200, has been discovered as a lost masterpiece by renowned Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, with a value exceeding £5 million. The anonymous owner's story of how this Antonio Canova marble sculpture was discovered sounds like a collector's dream come true.

Antonio Canova, Maddalena Giacente (Recumbent Magdalene), 1819–22. Photo courtesy of Christie’s London.

Discovery of a Masterpiece

Twenty years ago, in a Sussex garden statuary auction in England, a heavily weathered, darkened sculpture of a young woman was sold for merely £5,200. The identity of its creator unknown, it lingered in obscurity until a stunning re-evaluation in summer 2021. After restoration revealed its pristine white marble, the sculpture was authenticated as "Maddalena Giacente (Recumbent Magdalene)," a long-lost work of Antonio Canova.

Mario Guderzo, a noted Canova scholar, emphasized the historical and artistic significance of this find. "This work has been searched for by scholars for decades, so the discovery is of fundamental importance for the history of collecting and the history of art," he told the Art Newspaper.

Antonio Canova, Maddalena Giacente (Recumbent Magdalene), 1819–22, as it appeared in the auction catalogue for its 2002 sale at Sotheby’s Sussex, where it fetched just £5,200.

Provenance and Path Through Time

The story of this statue is as dramatic as its depiction. Commissioned during the tenure of Robert Jenkinson, the second Earl of Liverpool and then British Prime Minister, the sculpture was completed between 1819 and 1822—one of Antonio Canova's final works. After Canova's death in 1822, the sculpture was delivered to Jenkinson.

It first appeared in a Christie’s catalog in 1852, following the demise of Jenkinson’s heir. Its attribution to Canova faded over time, particularly after 1920 when Herbert Smith, a carpet manufacturer, acquired it with the purchase of Witley Court manor. A devastating fire later swept through the property.

The sculpture changed hands multiple times, unacknowledged as Canova's work. In 1938, Violet Van der Elst, an anti-death penalty activist and entrepreneur, bought it at an auction, still unrecognized. It wasn't until a 2002 auction that the long-lost sculpture resurfaced, still anonymous in its provenance until recent revelations.

Antonio Canova, Maddalena Giacente (Recumbent Magdalene), 1819–22. Photo courtesy of Christie’s London.

Artistic and Cultural Reverence

Canova's "Maddalena Giacente" is celebrated not only for its aesthetic and historical value but also for its emotional depth, depicting Mary Magdalene in a state of penitent ecstasy. This artwork's journey through British hands—surviving elements and neglect—highlights the shifting tides of art recognition and appreciation. Donald Johnston, head of Christie’s sculpture department, shared his awe with the Financial Times: "I’ve seen little bronzes on tabletops that have been overlooked but not something of this scale or caliber with this history."

The re-discovery of such a masterpiece not only stirs excitement but also poses poignant reflections on the transient nature of memory and recognition in the art world. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Antonio Canova, whose skill in capturing the subtleties of human emotion in marble continues to resonate two centuries later.