Hayez and the others Works from the Fondazione Caritro collection

Canova and Hayez were the leading exponents of 19th century figurative culture in Italy. While Canova established the primacy of sculpture over the other arts, it was Hayez who subsequently re-established the status of painting as the primary art form. Hayez's Venus (Ballerina Carlotta Chabert as Venus), in particular, is seen as the pictorial response to Canova's extraordinary sculptures. It was commissioned by Count Girolamo Malfatti of Trento and embodies an ideal of feminine and erotic beauty, much like the plaster casts by Canova on the second floor of the Mart.
It became part of the museum collections in 2004, thanks to a deposit from the Fondazione Caritro, and is considered one of the Mart's greatest masterpieces. The painting is now presented alongside other exemplary works from the 19th century, including “Ortensie” (Hydrangeas) by Giovanni Segantini and "Marina" by Bartolomeo Bezzi – a testament to the richness of the Caritro collection.

Source: www.mart.tn.it