Horses of Saint Mark
Scholars argue over whether these bronze horses emerged from the 2nd or 3rd century AD. Many point to similarities with the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, dated around 175 AD. Martin Henig edited a Handbook of Roman Art that discusses this connection on page 95. Other experts see evidence of Classical Greek craftsmanship from the 5th and 4th centuries BC instead. They cite the technical expertise required for such naturalistic animal rendering as proof. The short backs and long legs suggest the statues once sat above eye level. This positioning implies they originally topped a triumphal arch or grand building. Some theories propose Emperor Septimius Severus commissioned them for Constantinople.
Scientific analysis reveals the sculptures contain at least 96.67% copper. An anonymous 1979 publication by Thames and Hudson details this finding. That English translation came from a 1977 Venetian city government report found on page 191. Researchers classify the material not as true bronze but as impure copper. The low tin content forced casting temperatures between 1200 and 1300 degrees Celsius. This extreme heat requirement shaped the final texture and durability of the metal. Page 199 of the same source confirms these thermal conditions during creation. Such high-temperature casting techniques distinguish these works from typical ancient bronzes.
The horses stood for centuries within the Hippodrome of Constantinople before their removal. An 8th- or early 9th-century text called Parastaseis syntomoi chronikai mentions four gilt horses there. Chapter 84 of that document describes them coming from Chios under Theodosius II. Byzantium 1200 online archives map their specific location until 1204. They remained part of the quadriga monument displayed publicly in the capital. No records exist detailing how they arrived at the Hippodrome initially. Their long tenure in Constantinople established them as imperial symbols before the Fourth Crusade.
Venetian forces looted the statues during the sack of Constantinople in 1204. That same year, artisans added collars to the four horses heads. These collars hid where the animals' heads had been severed for transport. Doge Enrico Dandolo sent the group to Venice shortly after the crusade ended. They were installed on the terrace loggia above St Mark's Basilica in 1254. Petrarch later admired the sculptures while visiting the site. His observations appear in Rerum senilium, Volume V, noted by Roberto Weiss. Blackwell published Weiss's book The Renaissance Discovery of Classical Antiquity in 1973 on page 35.
Napoleon ordered the horses removed from the basilica in 1797. He transported them to Paris for display within French triumphal monuments. Artists used the statues alongside a new quadriga to design the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. This structure stood near the Louvre Palace during the Napoleonic era. The horses remained there until Napoleon suffered his final defeat. Their removal marked a significant shift in European art history and political symbolism.
Captain Dumaresq returned the horses to Venice following Napoleon's defeat in 1815. He fought at the Battle of Waterloo before being selected by the Emperor of Austria. Dumaresq took the statues down from the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris. Henry Boissier documented this event in A History of The Boissier-Scobell Families published in 1933. The Austrian Emperor awarded him a gold snuff box with diamond initials for his skillful work. The horses were reinstalled at St Mark's Basilica after their long journey back home.
Air pollution damaged the original sculptures by the early 1980s. Authorities decided to move them indoors for preservation instead of leaving them exposed. They now reside inside the basilica where visitors can view them safely. Replicas occupy the loggia position above the porch today. This decision balanced public access with the need to protect ancient metal from weathering. The replicas maintain the visual impact while allowing conservationists to study the originals closely.
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Common questions
When were the Horses of Saint Mark created according to scholarly debate?
Scholars argue over whether these bronze horses emerged from the 2nd or 3rd century AD. Many point to similarities with the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, dated around 175 AD.
What is the chemical composition of the Horses of Saint Mark statues?
Scientific analysis reveals the sculptures contain at least 96.67% copper. Researchers classify the material not as true bronze but as impure copper due to low tin content.
Where did the Horses of Saint Mark stand before being taken to Venice?
The horses stood for centuries within the Hippodrome of Constantinople before their removal. They remained part of the quadriga monument displayed publicly in the capital until the Fourth Crusade.
Who ordered the Horses of Saint Mark removed from St Mark's Basilica in 1797?
Napoleon ordered the horses removed from the basilica in 1797. He transported them to Paris for display within French triumphal monuments.
Why are replicas of the Horses of Saint Mark placed on the loggia today?
Air pollution damaged the original sculptures by the early 1980s. Authorities decided to move them indoors for preservation instead of leaving them exposed.