Statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni

The monument shows the condottiere Bartolomeo Colleoni on horseback and is cast in bronze. In his right hand he holds a command baton, while the horse turns its head and muscles become visible under the skin.

The Republic of Venice commissioned Andrea del Verrocchio after Colleoni died in 1479, and he advanced the work until his own death in 1488. Alessandro Leopardi then completed the casting and added the tall marble pedestal.

The commander sits upright in the saddle and gazes forward, while his horse lifts one front hoof and holds a pose that was new at the time. This kind of portrayal shows confidence and military power in a way that later influenced many European equestrian monuments.

You find the monument on Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo in front of the Scuola Grande di San Marco, next to the basilica of the same name. The bronze figure stands elevated on a decorated pedestal and is clearly visible from all angles of the square.

Verrocchio made the horse rest on only three legs, which posed a technical challenge and strengthened the impression of movement. The pedestal itself carries reliefs with war motifs that Leopardi added and that are rarely viewed from below.

Location: Venice

Inception: 1480s

Creator: Andrea del Verrocchio

Height: 395 cm

Made from material: bronze

GPS coordinates: 45.43920,12.34140

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29