Have you ever heard of the “cavall del Missori”? It’s a saying used in Milan to describe someone who looks sad. It’s a saying that originated from the very statue you are standing in front of now, a Monumento a Giuseppe Missori Statue.
This bronze statue of Giuseppe Missori was commissioned by the city of Milan and was inaugurated in 1916. The Monumento a Giuseppe Missori Statue is located at Piazza Giuseppe Missori, about 500 meters south of Piazza del Duomo. It was created by Riccardo Ripamonti. The bronze for the creation comes from old cannons and was given free by a government. Giuseppe Missori was an Italian patriot who served under Giuseppe Garibaldi during the Second Italian War of Independence. This statue depicts Missori seated atop a horse, and is a reminder of the bravery and loyalty of Missori, who saved Garibaldi’s life in the Battle of Milazzo in 1860.
The story of this horse adds a layer of intrigue to the tale of Giuseppe Missori. The statue depicts a notably weary-looking horse, one that is less than martial in appearance. The Milanese nicknamed it “cavall de brum” as a result. The horse was reportedly part of a prior work by Ripamonti, entitled Waterloo. In that sculpture Napoleon was the rider. The inscription on the pedestal, mostly illegible now, commemorates Missori saving Garibaldi’s life in Milazzo.
It’s easy to see how this horse became a symbol of weariness for the Milanese, but what is often overlooked is how Missori’s devotion to his country and Garibaldi led to him sacrificing his own safety for the cause of a unified Italy. The Monumento a Giuseppe Missori Statue stands as a testament to his bravery and reminds us to persevere even when we feel the weight of the world upon our shoulders.