The Battle of Roveredo, 1796

The scene is victorious. Napoleon’s troops cross the River Adige in northern Italy and make their way up the ramparts to claim their prize, the large fortress in Roveredo, now known as Rovereto. Austrian forces had been guarding the Tyrol state, creating a barrier between the Adige Valley and Lake Garda, but they had been forced to fall back on Roveredo and occupy the fortress. The young General Napoleon (1769-1821), advancing into Italy during the French Revolutionary Wars, defeated the Austrians in this battle in September 1796.

Clarkson Stanfield made his name as a painter of theatrical scenery. This stood him in good stead for the enormity of this canvas and its multitude of elements. The ...