Treasures of Buckingham Palace: Canova's victorious marble sculpture of Mars and Venus

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A subtle but very important fact; the statue does NOT "symbolise Britain´s triumph over France" but the end of the Napoleonic Wars (mostly instigated and financed by Britain) and the blessings of peace. On 4th December 1815 Canova was received by the Prince Regent who commissioned several statues leaving to the sculptor the choice of the subjects. Canova excused himself saying that he had too much work waiting for him in Rome. However, "He agreed to sculpt the group Mars and Venus as an allegory of War and Peace, out of veneration and gratitude towards the Prince" (MEMORIE DI ANTONIO CANOVA by Antonio d´Este, Firenze, 1864)