The Iconography: Garibaldi and the Risorgimento

Antonio Ximenes's shield represents a significant example of late nineteenth-century celebratory art. The work was created not only to commemorate the Italian general but also to celebrate the volunteers who took part in the Expedition of the Thousand and the main Sicilian municipalities that contributed to the success of the mission against the Bourbon government. The revival of the parade shield model is the starting point for a work characterized by a rich eclectic and historicist spirit.

The elaborate iconography features the exaltation of Garibaldi's image as the focal point, with his face placed in the center, from which eight rays containing allegorical figures radiate.

The symbolic repertoire referring to the key cities of the Sicilian campaign is very rich: Calatafimi, site of the first clash; Marsala, the landing point; Milazzo, the scene of the battle of July 20; and Palermo, the center of the victorious insurrection. Above the coat of arms of Marsala, the motto "Italia e Vittorio Emanuele" (Italy and Victor Emmanuel) is engraved, a direct reference to Garibaldi's proclamation at Salemi.

Overall, the work reflects the late nineteenth-century celebratory style, rich in historical and formal references belonging to different eras, from the classical world to the rocaille taste, combined with the realism of the central portrait.