Bust of Napoleon ca. 1808-14 After a model by Antonio Canova Antonio Canova, the most celebrated Neoclassical artist in Europe, derived the Bust of Napoleon from his full-length colossal marble statue of Napoleon as Mars Pacificus (1803-1806; London, Apsley House). The busts scale, composition, and truncationare owed to its origins as a full-length figure. Napoleon famously rejected Canovas monumental portrayal of him as Mars because of the statues nudity. The bust Canova derived from it conversely became one of the emperors important official images. Numerous colossal and life-sized examples of the Bust of Napoleon were disseminated throughout Europe. It was the sole model by Canova to have been reproduced in marble outside of his Roman workshop during the sculptors lifetime.The Colossal Bust of Napoleon captures the monumental ambition and allantica majesty of Napoleons imperial portraits. Yet it is almost certainly not by Canovas hand, and it might not have been carved under