The Graces and Venus Dancing before Mars 19th century

This 19th-century cameo, "The Graces and Venus Dancing before Mars," by famed Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, depicts a scene from Roman mythology. The Graces, known for their beauty and charm, dance before the god of war, Mars, while Venus, the goddess of love, plays a lyre. The figures are rendered in Canova's signature neoclassical style, characterized by graceful lines and idealized forms. This small but intricate work, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Canova's mastery of both sculpture and the classical tradition.