Daedalus and Icarus 1779

Antonio Canova made 'Daedalus and Icarus' from marble. This wasn't just any marble, but the most prized Carrara, sourced from the Apuan Alps in Italy. In this sculpture, we see Daedalus, the skilled craftsman, securing wings onto his son Icarus, an iconic scene of human ingenuity and tragic fate. The choice of marble is crucial here. Canova skillfully exploits the stone's inherent qualities, transforming it into a lifelike representation of skin and fabric. The texture of the marble, polished to a high sheen, conveys the smoothness of human skin. But let's think about process. This wasn't a quick carve. Extracting and transporting marble was an industry, then skilled artisans would have been needed for the various stages of sculpting, grinding, and polishing. The finished sculpture is a testament to Canova's mastery, but it's also a product of collective labor. Understanding this allows us to appreciate not only the artist's skill but the broader social context in which the artwork was created.