A set of four horses in gilt bronze, was one of the few works of art that were not thrown into the bronze foundries during the terrible plunder of Constantinople in 1204, thus escaping destruction.
These four life-size, gilded bronze horses were installed at the Constantinople Hippodrome by emperor Constantin.
There are several hypotheses as to their original origin, ranging from a provenance of the island of Chios to that of Rome, at the time of the plundering by the emperor Constantin of a considerable number of works of art from Rome, to install them in the new Rome that will become Constantinople.
The Venetians, during the sack of Constantinople in 1204, took these four horses in gilded bronze and cut off their heads, to allow them to be transported on the galleys bound for Venice, their initial size being too large to be transported in this state on these galleys.
When they arrived in Venice, the four bronze-gilt horses were installed with collars around their necks to hide the cut on their heads that was raised up on top of their bodies at the top of the Basilica of Saint Mark.
Then Napoleon occupying Venice in 1797 took these four horses in gilded bronze and had them transported to Paris, to install them at the top of the triumphal arch of the newly built Louvre carousel.
This wonderful set of four bronze-gilt horses was returned to Venice after the Congress of Vienna and replaced on the carousel of the Louvre by a copy, which still remains there today.
The original of these four bronze-gilt horses is in Venice, inside the Basilica of Saint Mark, to preserve them from all pollution. It is a replica that appears today on the facade of the Basilica of Saint Mark.
© ISABELLE CLAUDINE FRANCOISE LARGENTON
