(1815–1884) Panorama of the Battle of Solferino with Formation of the Troops at around 11:30 am, verso old label inscribed “Carlo Bossoli” legend “Etat de la bataille de Solferino à 11 1/2du matin” and topographical details, dated “24 Juin 1859”, gouache on paper, 28 x 118 cm, Passepartout, framed, damaged, (foxing, warping), (Hu)

Exhibited:
Napoleon III a Brescia e a Solferino - La Vittoria celebrata 1859–2009,
exhibition curated by Elena Lucchesi-Ragni, Maurizio Mondini, Francesca Morandini, Brescia, Santa Giulia, Museo della cittá, 20 June - 20 September 2009.

Catalogued and illustrated in:
Napoleon III. a Brescia e a Solferino - La Vittoria celebrata 1859–2009, exhibition catalogue, Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo.2009, ill. 105.,Various authors, La Battaglia di Solferino nel dipinto di Carlo Bossoli, Brescia 2009.
Austria’s defeat at the battle of Solferino, the decisive battle in the Sardinian war between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia with its ally France, resulted in the unification of Italy. The catastrophic sanitary and humanitarian conditions on the battlefield, especially after the battle on 24 June 1859, cost the lives of innumerable soldiers and persuaded the businessman Henry Dunant to establish an aid organisation, now the Red Cross, and lead to the drawing up of the Geneva Convention in 1864.