Equestrian statue of Carlo Alberto, Equestrian monument in Casale Monferrato, Italy
The equestrian statue of Carlo Alberto in Piazza Mazzini shows the king in a Roman tunic and pallium, his right arm extended palm down and his left hand holding the bridle. The bronze group, about two and a half times life size, rests on a granite pedestal from Monte Orfano with a monolithic block weighing some 25 tonnes.
The Senate of Casale, the highest court of Monferrato, was suppressed in 1730 by Carlo Emanuele III and moved to Turin. Carlo Alberto restored it as a Court of Appeal by edict on 19 September 1837. The city commissioned the monument in 1838, funded by 80,000 Piedmontese lire raised through voluntary subscriptions, and inaugurated it on 20 May 1843.
The monument depicts Carlo Alberto in Roman senator dress and defines the character of the central square. It serves as a focal point for public memory in the city and is part of the daily landscape for residents.
The monument sits in the heart of the city on a large public square that is easy to reach on foot. The granite base provides space to stand and view the bronze figure from different angles.
The bronze was cast in Milan by Luigi Manfredini, who died during preparations; his son-in-law Giovanni Battista Viscardi finished the work. The horse is made of seven pieces and the rider of five, welded together, with a total weight of 8 tonnes. Before shipping to Casale, the royal court and Viceroy Ranieri Giuseppe d'Asburgo-Lorena visited the foundry outside Porta Comasina.
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