Our £3million grant helped secure Antonio Canova’s The Three Graces for the UK, saving one of Europe’s most celebrated sculptures for public enjoyment.
The Three Graces is a marble sculpture created by the Italian artist Antonio Canova between 1814 and 1817. It shows the three Graces from classical mythology, figures who represent beauty, elegance and joy. Widely regarded as a masterpiece of neoclassical sculpture, it is celebrated for Canova’s exceptional skill in carving marble to resemble soft, living flesh.
The sculpture was commissioned for the 6th Duke of Bedford and displayed at Woburn Abbey for more than 170 years. In 1994, we awarded £3million towards the acquisition of The Three Graces. This support helped the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Galleries of Scotland secure the sculpture rather than being lost to a private collection overseas.
The acquisition created a long-term partnership between the two museums, allowing people across the UK to see the sculpture. The work is displayed in turn by the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Galleries of Scotland, giving broad public access to a masterpiece that might otherwise have been inaccessible.
See more of this world-class collection that we have saved for the people of the UK.