The Apotheosis of Napoleon #BertelThorvaldsen #WesternArt As famous in Northern Europe as a modern Phidias, Thorvaldsen was the most important neo-classical sculptor of his day, together with Canova, his only serious rival. The Danish-born Thorvaldsen spent long periods in his studio in Rome. He had remarkable success there, obtaining commissions from private individuals and from the government, most notably for the tomb of Pope Pius VII in the Basilica of Saint Peter. In 1829 the Scot Alexander