AFTER THE ANTIQUE, LAST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

Details

A pair of Italian bronze models of two of the four horses of Saint Mark's
After the Antique, last quarter 19th century
On rectangular cavetto edged bases, one with restoration to tail
8½in. (21.6cm.) high, 8in. (20.2cm.) long (2)

Special notice

This lot is subject to Collection and Storage Charges. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

The famous bronze horses, standing 5' in height were probably cast originally for the Arch of Nero in Rome. Constantine the Great had them removed to Byzantium, and in 1204 Doge E.Dandolo on his conquest of Constantinople had them brought back to Venice. They were removed yet again in 1797, this time by a beligerent Napoleon, and having been triumphantly paraded through the streets of Paris were eventually installed on the Rue de Rivoli. The bronzes were finally returned to Venice as a provision of the Treaty of Paris of 1815, following Napoleon's crushing defeat on the field of Waterloo.

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