Many of us can imagine how an artist composes a picture on paper, but how a sculptor converts a lump of stone into a sculpture of beauty remains one of life’s enigmas. We can see or read the steps in the sculpting process, but the sculptor’s skill still enchants us. 
Sculptor Antonio Canova created the greatest neoclassical sculptures of his time, and a new exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington explores how he developed his works in clay, plaster, and marble. “Terpsichore Lyran (Muse of Lyric Poetry),” circa 1814–1816, by Antonio Canova. Marble; 69 7/8 inches by 30 3/4 inches by 24 inches. Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1968, The Cleveland Museum of Art. (The Cleveland Museum of Art)
An upcoming exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington may help shed light on the age-old mystique of creating sculptures. Opening on June 11, “Canova: Sketching in Clay” explores the importance of clay in neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova’s artistic process. Only around 60 of his terracotta (fired clay) models now survive—more than 30 of which will be on display, along with some of the sculptor’s plaster casts and finished marbles. It’s the first time in over 50 years that Canova’s terracottas have taken center stage in an exhibition. Together, these exhibits show the evolution of a sculptural masterpiece from its initial conception through its gestation and birth. …