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This is the original of the equestrian statue of Cangrande I della Scala from his monument in the churchyard of the small church Santa Maria Antica in Verona. The statue on the monument was replaced by a copy.
There is no record of the name of the sculptor of this tomb, but of his mastery the riding figure of Cangrande, unique in its forceful naturalism and strong sense of movement, leaves no doubt.
Cangrande (christened Can Francesco) della Scala (1291-1329) was an Italian nobleman, belonging to the della Scala family which ruled Verona from 1308 until 1387. Now perhaps best known as the leading patron of the poet Dante Alighieri, Cangrande was in his own day chiefly acclaimed as a successful warrior and autocrat. Between becoming sole ruler of Verona in 1311 and his death in 1329 he took control of several neighbouring cities, notably Vicenza, Padua and Treviso, and came to be regarded as the leader of the Ghibelline faction in northern Italy.
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