Rome and Milan: Eternal and Visionary Capitals of Neoclassicism
Italian translation of the exhibition catalogue published by Allemandi
Milan, le Gallerie d’Italia, 28 November 2025 – 6 April 2026
From 1796 to 1815, between Napoleon’s descent into Italy, the defeat at Waterloo, and the Congress of Vienna, the peninsula experienced profound political, economic, and social changes that also reshaped its artistic scene. While Florence, Venice, Genoa, and Naples declined, Rome and Milan emerged as cultural capitals: Rome, with its ancient and Renaissance heritage, attracted artists from all over the world, while Milan transformed into the modern city of the new Napoleonic era.
The exhibition aims to celebrate this creative period by bringing together works by Antonio Canova, Giuseppe Bossi, and Andrea Appiani, illustrating the creation of Italy’s image and its iconography. Among the pieces on display, Canova’s large horse model, recently restored, stands out, along with important masterpieces by Giuseppe Bossi.
The exhibition also presents the Foro Bonaparte, conceived by Giovanni Antonio Antolini, one of the most ambitious urban projects in history. Although it was never built, the project reflects Milan’s aspiration to become the new Rome. Also significant is the evocation of Napoleon’s coronation as King of Italy in Milan’s Cathedral, illustrated through the so-called Onori d’Italia (Honours of Italy): the recently restored ceremonial garments.
Francesco Leone, Elena Lissoni, and Fernando Mazzocca are the curators.