The work that launched Canova in Rome

The Basilica of the Holy Apostles (Santi Apostoli) holds a landmark of art history: the funerary monument to Pope Clement XIV, carved by Antonio Canova in the late 18th century. It was the young Venetian sculptor's first major Roman commission and the work that crowned him the greatest master of European Neoclassicism. Standing before it, you understand why Canova changed the way sculpture would be conceived forever.

Who was Clement XIV

Clement XIV (Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli) is the pope best remembered for suppressing the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1773. After his death, this funerary monument was dedicated to him and entrusted to Canova's rising talent: an opportunity the young sculptor turned into a personal triumph.

Want to admire Canova's masterpiece at Santi Apostoli?

My Rome Driver takes you into the heart of Rome with a private driver and waits to whisk you to your next stop. Fixed price, door to door.

Check availability and get a quote

Reply within 30 minutes · Fixed price · Free cancellation up to 24h before

The composition

The monument shows the pope enthroned, his hand raised in a gesture of blessing, radiating calm authority. At his feet stand two female allegorical figures:

  • Temperance, the symbol of balance and measure.
  • Meekness (or Humility), the symbol of gentleness and clemency.

The whole conveys composure, balance and nobility, the core values of the Neoclassical aesthetic, far removed from the exuberance of the Baroque works that came before.

Why it's a masterpiece

With this monument, Canova introduced a new language to Rome: polished surfaces, pure lines, restrained emotion and a pursuit of ideal beauty inspired by the ancients. It was an instant success that opened the doors to the most important commissions in Europe, from Napoleon to the great noble houses. The tomb at Santi Apostoli thus marks the beginning of the Roman career of the greatest sculptor of his age.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Tomb of Clement XIV? It is the funerary monument to Pope Clement XIV in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles (Santi Apostoli), carved by Antonio Canova in the late 18th century: his first great Roman work.

Why is it so important? Because it crowned Canova as a master of Neoclassicism and brought a new sculptural language to Rome, built on purity, balance and ideal beauty.

Who was Clement XIV? The pope (Ganganelli) best known for suppressing the Society of Jesus in 1773; after his death, Canova's monument was dedicated to him.

What does the monument depict? The pope enthroned in the act of blessing, with the allegories of Temperance and Meekness at his feet: a study in Neoclassical composure and nobility.

Where is it? In the Basilica of the Holy Apostles (Santi Apostoli), just steps from Piazza Venezia and the Trevi Fountain. Entry to the basilica is usually free.

Read also

Book a driver for Santi Apostoli

Fixed price · ZTL access · Door to door

Article #506 · Category: Monuments · Updated: May 2026