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Napoleon's Early Art Thefts in Italy
Guide
26 May 2008
During the French Revolutionary Wars art thefts were an integral part of the French authorities' policy towards conquered territories. This guide tracks down the churches, museums and collections raided by Napoleon during the Italian Campaign 1796 - 1797.  Details
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Background
At war with most of its neighbours, revolutionary France gave command of the Italian front to a 26-year-old inexperienced commander: Napoleon Bonaparte. In what turned out to be an unprecedented display of brute force, the Italian Campaign of 1796 – 1797 catapulted the hitherto unknown Napoleon onto Europe’s centre stage, showing him to be a military genius and political force to be reckoned with.
Two weeks at the front and Napoleon had defeated Piedmont. Another month and he had defeated the Austrian forces. Austria, however, was not out of the game and she was to launch another three offensives in Italy - all of which Napoleon crushed - before she was forced to enter peace negotiations.
The first train of wagons packed with looted art left Milan on 18 May 1796. From then on caravans of requisitioned art works started to flow at a regular pace to the Louvre in Paris. The arrival of the many art works produced a great deal of publicity in Paris, and soon Napoleon's name was associated with all the splendours pouring in from Italy. The influx of art treasures, some of which were immediately sold to feed the war machine, also meant that the french authorities became increasingly dependent on the triumphant general. Napoleon understood only too well the propaganda value of art requisitions.
Author : Philip Dwyer
The most recent book on Napoleon's early career including the Italian Campaign. I haven't read it though!! The Road to Rivoli (2002)
Author : Martin Boycott-Brown
The readable The Road to Rivoli is indispensable, and particularly useful to the reader interested in the plight of the soldiers. There is not much focus on the art requisitions though'
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Napoleon's Italian Campaign. A Travel planner
By Thomas Vieth |
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The Battle of Rivoli 14 January 1797
By Thomas Vieth |
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Test By Thomas Vieth 18 Jul 2008 |
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Ambrosiana, Milan
Duomo, Mantua
Duomo, Verona
San Barnaba, Mantua
San Francesco, Mantua
Riccio bas-reliefs in San Giorgio in Braida, Verona
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Thomas Vieth
United Kingdom, London |