Topic 2 - 'Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker', Antonio Canova, 1803-6

the sculpture depicts...

napoleon bonaparte

who was napoleon?

the french military leader and emperor who conquered much of europe in the early 19th century

the style was....

napoleon's army had conquered italy in....

1796

napoleon setroyed the independence of venice near where....

canova is from

when was canova summoned to paris to execute the portrait of napoleon?

1802

how many sittings did napoleon do?

5

was planned to be held in the...

musée napoléon (now the louvre)

canova's system of work concentrated on the...

initial idea and the final carving and finishing of the marble

canova's workers would have...

roughed out the figure in marble and canova would then use a chisel and wax to polish and finish the sculpture

his body is in...

contrapposto

he raises his left arm and holds a...

staff, bringing a sense of authority and power

his nude body is clearly...

idealised and the muscle is carved with anatomical accuracy

what are some of the references to classical sculpture?

the idealised nude physique, and smoothly high finished carving

napoleon carries a gilded....

figure of nike on an orb in his right hand (the greek goddess of victory)

what is at his side?

a sword and belt are draped on a tree stump at his side

mars was the god of...

war in ancient roman religion

the weapons are at his side showing...

his new peaceful outlook after triumph

an example of napoleons road to peace is...

the treaty of amiens in 1802

upon viewing the statue napoleon ordered the statue to be....

placed apart and forbid public access

napoleons described it as too...

athletic

remained in storage until...

1816, after the battle of waterloo and napoleon's fall

it was then presented to...

the duke of wellington who won the battle against napoleon

the style was....

classical to show him in the guise of the roman god of war