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238 - 1 - Carlo BOSSOLI (Lugano, 1815 - Turin, 1884) Oil on canvas, si…
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Estimate €30,000 - €50,000
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Description
Carlo BOSSOLI (Lugano, 1815 - Turin, 1884) Oil on canvas, signed lower left "C. Bossoli". Minor damage, faded. In a beautiful giltwood and stuccoed frame decorated with palmettes. H. 50 x W. 70 cm. Frame: H. 69 x W. 88 cm. History Here, Carlo Bossoli depicts one of the most dramatic and symbolic moments of Napoleon's campaign in Russia, at once pathos and historical reflection. Emperor Napoleon I, on horseback in the centre, stares meditatively at the burning city of Moscow. Bossoli, an artist known for his taste for historical subjects and documentary precision, is confronted here with a narrative that goes beyond a simple account, entering the realm of the symbolic representation of power and its obsolescence. The choice of subject, emblematic of Napoleon's greatness and tragedy, reflects a deep interest in the figure of Napoleon, seen not just as a military leader, but as the protagonist of an epic destined to mark the course of European history. The composition is dominated by a dramatic contrast between the shadow of night and the glow of the fire that surrounds the town, a violent light that gives the scene an atmosphere of impending apocalypse. Figures of soldiers on foot and on horseback emerge from the darkness, symbols of a humanity crushed by catastrophe and destiny. In his last years of maturity, Carlo Bossoli devoted himself to depicting Napoleonic episodes, combining heroism and historical tragedy, glory and military defeat, with a particularly pronounced taste for pathos. This work is part of a historical and artistic thread that presents Napoleon as a historical figure and a romantic archetype, an emblem of genius and human torment. Archives The work is registered in the Archives of Turin, file of works by Carlo Bossoli under number 09/24 and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
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About the sale RUSSIAN ART
Auction location
Auction time 06/05/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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