Life
His training took place within the complex climate of the Fin de siècle, where Realism and Decadentism coexisted, while his long and multifaceted mature career unfolded in a twentieth century marked by the coexistence of Symbolist and Decadent aesthetics and the revolution of Futurism.
Pietro Canonica was born in Moncalieri in 1869. He studied with Odoardo Tabacchi and established himself very young as a sculptor, winning a prize at just seventeen with the statue Novizia. His career led him to create monumental works in Italy and abroad, establishing himself as one of the most important sculptors of his time.
Alongside his artistic activity, he cultivated a passion for music. He composed operas inspired by great literary authors: The Bride of Corinth after Goethe, Medea after Euripides and Seneca, Sacred Land after the Aeneid, and Miranda after Shakespeare. He was also the author of sacred and symphonic music.
In 1929 he was appointed a member of the Academy of Italy by Benito Mussolini, and in 1950 President Luigi Einaudi designated him a life senator. In Rome, he lived in the "Fortezzuola" of Villa Borghese, now the Canonica Museum, where many of his works are preserved. He died in the capital in 1959.
Aneddoto
The House-Museum
His Roman residence, the “Fortezzuola” in Villa Borghese, was donated by the Municipality of Rome and today houses the Canonica Museum, featuring sculptures, instruments, and personal memories.Works
Canonica created monuments and statues in Italy and abroad: among the most famous are the statue of Saint John Bosco in Saint Peter's Basilica (1936), the monument to Vittorio Emanuele Orlando in Rome (1953), and the monument to Giovanni Paisiello in Taranto (1960). He composed operas such as The Bride of Corinth, Medea, Sacred Land, and Miranda. His legacy unites figurative arts and music, testifying to his exceptional versatility.
Briciole di storia
Italy Abolishes the Death Penalty, a Milestone of Civilization
On June 30, 1889, Italy took a historic step of great significance. With the approval of the new penal code, promoted by Minister of Justice Giuseppe Zanardelli, the Kingdom of Italy became one of the first states in the world to completely abolish the death penalty for all crimes. The decision, influenced by the Enlightenment ideas of Cesare Beccaria, was the result of a long and heated parliamentary debate. In a Europe where the guillotine and the gallows were still in use, Italy placed itself at the forefront of human rights, affirming the principle that the State should not stain itself with the same crime it intended to punish.
Pubblico dominio (Commons)
