The Napoleon Statue
This point of interest is available as audio on the tour: Visit Milan, Secrets and Treasures of the Lombard Capital
A quick word about the statue of Napoleon you see in the centre of the courtyard. Here, the Emperor is depicted as Mars the Peacemaker, unarmed, triumphant, and entirely nude, a work originally intended for a grand vestibule rather than an open square.
The statue is a reminder that the Pinacoteca’s collection was greatly enriched by the spoils of the French army. During the Napoleonic and Revolutionary periods, the widespread looting of churches and castles not only filled the museums of France but also those of major cities across the kingdom. The Pinacoteca received many Flemish paintings sent from Paris, including Rubens’ celebrated Last Supper.
Today, the museum enjoys an international reputation in part thanks to Napoleon, and Antonio Canova’s beautiful bronze statue stands as a tribute to his ambition to make Milan a rich and modern cultural capital.
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