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Victor Emmanuel II Monument

The Victor Emmanuel II Monument is located in Milan, on the city’s main square, Piazza del Duomo. It was erected in memory of Victor Emmanuel II (1820–1878), the first king of Italy. The bronze equestrian statue shows the king reining in his horse, giving the composition a strong sense of energy. The figure stands on a tall pedestal with a red granite base and a white marble stair section, topped by another Carrara marble pedestal decorated with a bas-relief of the Piedmontese army entering Milan after the Battle of Magenta. Two lions lie on the side steps of the marble pedestal, pressing shields inscribed “Rome” and “Milan.” The monument was unveiled on 14 June 1896.

Victor Emmanuel II Monument with an equestrian statue on a marble pedestal and a lion sculpture at the base
The Victor Emmanuel II Monument in Milan, featuring a bronze equestrian statue atop a marble pedestal.
July 2007 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Victor Emmanuel II Monument with a bronze equestrian statue atop a marble pedestal, featuring a reclining lion sculpture and relief figures.
Victor Emmanuel II Monument in Milan, showing the bronze equestrian statue on its ornate marble base.
October 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Victor Emmanuel II Monument with a bronze equestrian statue on a grand sculpted pedestal and a white marble lion at the base.
The Victor Emmanuel II Monument shown with its bronze equestrian statue, ornate pedestal, and marble lion.
© · CC BY 3.0
Victor Emmanuel II Monument with a bronze equestrian statue on a carved marble pedestal in a paved square.
The Victor Emmanuel II Monument features a bronze equestrian statue atop an ornate marble pedestal in a historic city square.
October 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Victor Emmanuel II Monument with an equestrian statue above a carved pedestal, a crowned lion below, and a building in the background.
The Victor Emmanuel II Monument shown with its equestrian statue, sculpted pedestal, and crowned lion base.
© Agence de presse Meurisse. Agence photographique (commanditaire) · Public domain

Identification

TitleMonument to Victor Emmanuel II
TypeEquestrian monument
Original Italian titleMonumento a Vittorio Emanuele II

Historical context

Dedicated toVictor Emmanuel II, King of Italy (1820–1878)
Commissioned byKing Umberto I
Commission date1878
Reason for commissionAfter the death of Victor Emmanuel II in 1878

Creator

ArtistErcole Rosa
Artist nationalityItalian
Completion after artist's deathThe monument was completed after Ercole Rosa's death in 1893 by the Barzaghi brothers under the direction of Ettore Ferrari
Construction managerGiannino Ferrini, engineer from the Municipal Technical Office

Discovery and provenance

Casting of reliefsThe bronze relief was cast at F.lli Barigozzi on 9 January 1895
Foundations discovered18 May 2012
Inauguration date14 June 1896
Installation date1896
Proposed locations in MilanNear the Royal Palace or in the center of Piazza del Duomo
Bronze parts completed1893
Bronze casting siteBarigozzi foundry in the Isola district of Milan
Final locationCenter of Piazza del Duomo, Milan
Selected for Milan statueIn 1879, Ercole Rosa was chosen to make the Milan monument
Original project locationVercelli

History and restoration

VandalismOn 9 March 2023, the monument was defaced with non-washable yellow paint by two activists from Ultima Generazione
Restoration completedAugust 2023
Later vandalismOn 2 October 2025, the monument was defaced with red paint and writing during a pro-Palestinian demonstration

Physical characteristics

Bronze relief dimensions2.30 m high; 90 m²; 8.6 t
Equestrian statue weight12.7 t
Equestrian statue height5.60 m
Overall dimensions320 m²; 14.80 m high in total
Pedestal height8 m

Materials

Statue materialBronze
Pedestal materialsRed granite base; white Carrara marble stairway; Carrara marble upper pedestal
Bronze relief materialBronze
Lion materialMarble

Technique

Bronze relief model makerEttore Ferrari
Original relief material plannedMarble
Reason for change of relief materialAfter Ercole Rosa's death, the relief was cast in bronze instead of being carved in marble
Equestrian statue modelsWax models by Ercole Rosa
Lion sculptorSerafino Bianchi

Appearance

Pedestal decorationReliefs and allegorical palm branches on the upper pedestal, with eagles inside oak wreaths on the longer sides of the entablature
Base decorationTwo reclining lions on the side stairways, each with one paw on a shield or plaque
Horse poseThe horse stands with all four legs on the pedestal
Composition effectEnergetic yet stable
Depiction of the riderVictor Emmanuel II is shown reining in his horse while turning to encourage his soldiers at the Battle of San Martino

Iconography and meaning

Historical scene depicted on pedestalThe entry of Piedmontese troops into Milan after the Battle of Magenta during the Second Italian War of Independence
Historical battle depictedBattle of San Martino, June 1859
Historical contextThe Battle of San Martino was the last clash of the Second Italian War of Independence (27 April–12 July 1859)
Front inscriptionGIUGNO MDCCCLIX (June 1859)
Front inscription meaningCommemorates Victor Emmanuel II's entry into Milan on 8 June 1859
Rear inscriptionINAUGURATO MDCCCXCVI (14 June 1896)
Rear inscription meaningRefers to the monument's inauguration date
Lion shield inscriptionsRoma and Milano
Lion symbolismThey represent the major conquests of the Risorgimento