LabelThis Perseus, purchased by Countess Valeria Tarnowska of Poland, is a replica of Canova's famed marble of Perseus in the Vatican, conceived about 1790 and first shown in 1801. Based freely on the Apollo Belvedere, which had been carried off to Paris under Napoleon, it was bought by Pope Pius VII and placed upon the pedestal where the Apollo had formerly stood. In the Museum's version, Canova has refined the ornamental details and aimed for a more lyrical effect than in the Vatican Perseus, a stylistic streamlining characteristic of his artistic process. Medusa's head is based on that of the antique "Rondanini Medusa."

ProvenanceAntonio Canova(until 1804; sold to Count & Countess Tarnowski); Count Jan and Countess Valeria Tarnowski, Dzików, Poland(1804 – until 1849); Heirs of Count Jan and Countess Valeria Tarnowski, Dzików, Poland(by descent, 1849 – before 1871; sold to Wawra]; [ C.J. Wawra, Vienna, 1871]; Freiherr Carl von Schwarz, Vienna (after 1871); Heirs of Freiherr Carl von Schwarz, Vienna (until 1967); [ Piero Tozzi, New York, sold to MMA]