Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker, Marble sculpture at Apsley House, London, England
Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker is a marble sculpture at Apsley House in London, England. The figure stands unclothed with a military cloak draped over the left shoulder and holds a gilded orb along with a spear.
Antonio Canova completed the work in 1806 on commission from the French emperor, who however refused its installation. After the fall of Napoleon, the sculpture entered the collection of the Duke of Wellington, who installed it in his London residence.
The work presents the French emperor as a Roman deity and carries a golden orb as a symbol of military power. The piece follows classical models from antiquity and shows the ruler in a pose between warfare and diplomacy.
The entrance hall of the house was adapted to support the weight of the sculpture. Visitors can view the work during regular museum hours at the location opposite Hyde Park Corner.
The general who defeated his opponent at Waterloo displayed his portrait in his own home. The work now stands in the stairwell, where guests encounter the monumental figure immediately upon entering.
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