During the G8 summit in Italy on Wednesday 8th July, Italian Prime Minster gave all attending world leaders a masterpiece in book form and symbol of Italian excellence: Antonio Canova. L'invenzione della bellezz, published by the Italian publishing company Fondazione Marilena Ferrari. 

Valued at $460,000 [€ 316.000] the Prime Minster Stephen Harper, of Canada, was forced to decline the gift and the gift will probably be donated to an institution such as the national library. It is because of federal policies that Prime Minster  Harper cannot accept a gift with a value exceeding US$ 1000,-. Canada was lucky to receive the first numbered copy because Canada starts with a 'C' and the attending countries received their numbered copy in alphabetical order.

As far as some veterans of international summits can recall, such an extravagant and valuable gift has never been given to attendees.


What is it that makes this publication so excessively expensive  ?
The cover features a marble bas-relief showing a detail from the work Le Grazie e Venere danzano davanti a Marte by Canova, created in statuary marble from the Fantiscritti quarry in Carrara, the same that supplied Antonio Canova. The bas-relief is set in velvet brocade with a gold thread weave.
 
Inside, special velata pure cotton handmade paper, enhanced with an Antonio Canova watermark, carries press-printed texts by authors from the same period as Canova.

The counterpoint to these texts are 26 plates showing tempere by Canova, all applied by hand and screen and litho printed, together with 5 etchings and 77 photographs of works by Canova, taken by Mimmo Jodice.

Every single component of the work has been bound by hand and has been produced in only 10 copies with Arabic numbers.

The frontispiece of each copy carries a calligraphic personal dedication for each of the heads of state that took part in the G8 conference. Every work of art is accompanied by a manual transcription of the national anthem of each country, with illumination portraying the history and traditions of the nation.


The work of art also has a silk bookmark with the emblem of each country and a magnifying glass. The supports for the bookmark and magnifying glass are made of 925 silver coated in antique-effect gold.

The work is protected by an exclusive ash wood and mahogany box, hand finished in gold leaf and entirely covered with silk. The box bears the G8 symbol, the coat of arms of Italy and the coat of arms of the country for which it is destined.

For detailed information and pictures on the publication, see >>