Heinrich Muller

Purchased from Antique Market, Ltd., Chicago, by George F. Harding Museum, Chicago, February 1964 [by repute]
Transferred to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1982
Accessioned by the Art Institute, 1984

The present model is a bronze reduction of the better known equestrian statue of the Italian ruler Cangrande the first Della Scala, surmounting his tomb placed above the north door on the outside of the church of Santa Maria Antica in Verona.

Cangrande della Scala (1291-1329), an Italian nobleman, was a prominent member of the della Scala family which ruled Verona between 1277 and 1887. Today, Scala is best remembered as the leading patron of legendary poet Dante Alghieri. However, in his own day Cangrande was chiefly celebrated as a successful warrior and autocrat. From his rise to the throne in 1311 up until his death in 1329, Scala seized and took control of several cities neighboring Verona. Additionally, Scala was a noted patron of the arts and learning in general. During his reign, poets, painters, grammarians and historians all were welcomed in Verona. To no surprise, Dante lavishly praises his patron in his writing, most notably in “Paradiso, Canto XVII” of The Divine Comedy, lines 70–93.