Koning Victor Emanuel II van Italië tijdens de Slag bij Palestro 1859

Adolphe Jean Baptiste Bayot created this print of King Victor Emanuel II of Italy during the Battle of Palestro. It’s an image made for public consumption, designed to evoke a sense of national pride and project the image of a strong and valorous leader. The scene depicts the King on horseback, sword raised, leading his troops into battle. This kind of heroic imagery was very common in 19th-century Europe, used to build the cult of the leader and reinforce the idea of national unity. Italy at this time was undergoing a process of unification, and images like this played a crucial role in shaping a sense of shared identity. Bayot likely drew on popular imagery of the time, referencing earlier depictions of military leaders, and he probably had institutional support from the state. Understanding the social and political context of its creation helps us understand how this image functioned in its time. We can explore the archives of the Kingdom of Italy, and the history of its military campaigns, to understand it better.