Exposed to the Parisian Salon in 1808, this work immediately received success but also numerous criticisms from some who accused Canova of copying the famous Roman statue of Agrippina in the Capitol. The elderly woman - Napoleon's mother - is represented sitting comfortably on a greek chair with pillows, turning her head to the left with her left arm leaning against the backrest and her legs crossed on a footrest, in a rotating movement that breaks the linearity of the pose and creates a feeling of naturalness that has nothing to do with the frontal and rigidity of classic statuary.

What characterizes this sculpture is the lively and enthralling expression of Letizia, which expresses a gratifying smile on the spectator, and the richly draped dress that makes the softness and flessiveness of sculpture.