Canova Lions - Washington, D.C.
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 38° 53.746 W 077° 02.367
18S E 323133 N 4307186
Pair of lions in front of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. have an interesting history.
Waymark Code: WMJN4K
Location: District of Columbia, United States
Date Posted: 12/07/2013
Views: 9
The lions located in front of the Corcoran Gallery of Art are copies of Antonio Canova's lions which were sculpted in 1792 for the tomb of Pope Clement XII in St Peter's in Rome. The originals were sculpted of marble, these cast in bronze from molds of the originals. The lions, both reclining, one awake and one asleep. They were purchased in Rome by successful Washington businessman Benjamin Holladay in 1860 for $6,000 and placed in front of his home at Washington home at 1311 K Street, N.W. and remained there until his death. The lions were purchased at auction by the Corcoran Galley in 1888 and placed in front of the museum when it was at Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventeenth Street, N.W. (now the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum). They were moved to their current location in 1897 when the museum moved to its new location at Seventeenth Street and New York Avenue, N.W.
The lions are a popular photo backdrop for tourists.
TITLE: Canova Lions
ARTIST(S): Antonio Canova, (copy after) Unknown (Rome, Italy), founder.
DATE: Original marble 1792. Cast ca. 1860. Relocated spring 1888. Relocated 1897.
MEDIUM: Sculpture: bronze; Base: marble.
CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 71500324
Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link]
PHYSICAL LOCATION:
Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 17th Street, N.W., Entrance,
Washington, District of Columbia
DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH:
None noted.
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.