Crossing the Arcole

On November 15, 1796, the 19,000 soldiers of the Army of Italy faced some 24,000 Austrians under the command of General Joseph Alvinczy on the Arcole bridge which overlooks the Agide. Over two days, French troops attempted to break through the Austrian defense by carrying out a pincer manoeuvre under the command of Generals Augereau and Masséna, without success.
Faced with the discouragement of the troops, Bonaparte then decides to seize a flag to lead his men to victory. The board is reminiscent of the Napoleon on the Arcole bridge by Antoine-Jean Gros (1796).