«Quei deboli fili che mi legano a quella corte». Antonio Canova, Giovanni Gherardo de Rossi e il Portogallo

Abstract

This paper focuses on the artworks commissioned to Antonio Canova by Portuguese patrons in 1805: the monument to Alexandre de Sousa Holstein, ordered by his son, the young diplomat Pedro de Sousa Holstein (1784-1850), and the statue of the Genius of National Independence for the Portuguese Prince John VI. New information about these projects has been uncovered through the analysis of unpublished letters, highlighting the influence of the writer and art connoisseur Giovanni Gherardo De Rossi (1754-1827). Therefore, this article will explore the relationships between De Rossi, Canova, and Pedro de Sousa Holstein, which may play a significant role in understanding Portuguese commissions.