early 19th century italian school. Pope Pius VII (1760-1829). Finely carved bust in scagliola, signed on the reverse with the initials E.G, resting on a pedestal base finishing a square plinth in imitation of yellow and red jasper in scagliola. Age wear, accidents to the base, but overall good condition. H. 95 cm - L. 57 cm. History: The coat of arms of Pope Pius VII can be seen on the medallion that closes the lace holding the two sides of his stole to his ermine-bordered muzette, from which the collar of his cassock protrudes. Pius VII was elected pope in Venice on 14 March 1800 and is still famous for having been present at the imperial coronation of Napoleon I at Notre-Dame in 1804. Following tensions between the pontiff and the French emperor, the pope was imprisoned in 1809. In 1813, he was forced to sign the Fontainebleau Concordat, an act he retracted shortly afterwards. In 1814, he made a triumphant return to Rome. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, he interceded with the allied powers to improve the conditions of Napoleon's detention on the island of St Helena. He also welcomed several members of the French imperial family to Papal lands.