Canova's Birthplace in Possagno Restored and Reopened for Bicentennial

The Casa natale di Antonio Canova in Possagno, Treviso, has been restored and will reopen to the public on October 13, 2022, the bicentennial of the neoclassical sculptor's death. The house, part of the Museo Gypsotheca Antonio Canova (which also includes a Gypsotheca, Library, and Archive), underwent a comprehensive renovation funded by the Fondo Cultura, won in partnership with the Comune di Possagno. Interventions included repainting surfaces and upgrading electrical, lighting, alarm, and fire prevention systems, with consultancy from Roberta D'Adda and support from Chysos of Borso del Grappa. The project aimed to restore the house to its original decorum respecting Canova's taste. Vittorio Sgarbi, president of the Fondazione Canova onlus, stated the goal was to let the works in the Gypsotheca testify to the sublime within the artist. Director Moira Mascotto noted the renovation honors Canova's memory alongside exhibitions, publications, and cultural events. The house, built on a 17th-century structure, was expanded by Canova himself with the Torretta and the Sala degli Specchi. After his death, it became a museum housing paintings, sketches, plasters, and marbles. The renovation also secures the second and third bays of the 19th-century wing of the Gypsotheca.