Dimensions
140 x 223 x 30mm
In July 1978, a triumphant procession made its way through the streets of Paris. Echoing the parades of Roman emperors centuries before, Napoleon Bonaparte was proudly displaying the spoils of his recent military adventures.
There were animals - caged lions and dromedaries - as well as tropical plants, including banana and coconut trees. And among the works of art on show, one stood out: four horses of gilded metal, taken by Napoleon from their home in Venice.
Charles Freeman's remarkable new book is a fascinating account of both the statues and the societies in which they have been displayed. It is a tale that stretches back to the many competing legends of the origins of these exquisite figures. Freeman reveals not only the horses' artistic and historical value, but also their symbolic nature: how the motif of the quadrigae - a chariot drawn by four horses - has resonated since classical times.
