This statue of the Italian condottieri or mercenary Bartolomeo Colleoni (died 1475) in Venice is by the sculptor Andrea de Verrocchio and has been described as one of the finest equestrian statues in Europe. Ruskin said " I do not believe that there is a more glorious work of sculpture existing in the world".He certainly does look fierce and powerful!
Colleoni left a fortune to the Venetian authorities on condition that a statue of him be erected in St Mark's Square - they took the money and erected the statue in front of the School of St Mark's in another, smaller square.