Discover: A Bust of Napoleon from the Studio of Giovanni Battista Comolli

This week our resident paintings expert Miles Barton discussed an Alabaster Bust of Napoleon from the Studio Of Giovanni Battista Comolli currently at the gallery. Comolli travelled Europe receiving commissions from noblemen. He lived in Millan where Napoleon was crowned King of Italy. The bust was created after he became monarch in 1805. In the bust Napoleon is depicted wearing the Crown of Lombardy.

Listen to Miles explain why it is such a rare object:

Napoleon was born on 15 August 1769 in Corsica to a Tuscan family. He was a French military and political leader in the French Revolution and is often considered one of the greatest commanders in history. He was christened Napoleone di Buonaparte. He adopted the more French-sounding Napoléon Bonaparte when he was in his 20s.

Discover more about the item on timothylangston.com