Comment on 12.10.1799
It is not completely clear what Russian troops had arrived in Rome “yesterday”, i.e. 11.10.1799. In the spring of 1799, a Russo-Austrian army under General Aleksander Suvorov (1729/30-1800) advanced into Northern Italy, but it moved into Switzerland at the end of that year. Other Russian army units under Admiral Voinovitch took part in the siege of Ancona in November 1799. Troops from some of these armies may have been in Rome, but Thorvaldsen may also have heard a false rumour.
Last updated 13.01.2015