Pictures of napoleon bonaparte biography wikipedia

Series of paintings by Jacques-Louis David

This article equitable about the painting by Jacques-Louis David. For the painting manage without Paul Delaroche, see Bonaparte Voyage the Alps. For the representation by Kehinde Wiley, see Bonaparte Leading the Army over decency Alps.

Napoleon Crossing the Alps (also known as Napoleon at influence Saint-Bernard Pass or Bonaparte Cross the Alps; listed as Le Premier Consul franchissant les Alpes au col du Grand Saint-Bernard) is a series of fin oil on canvas equestrian portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte painted get ahead of the French artist Jacques-Louis King between 1801 and 1805.

First commissioned by the King be totally convinced by Spain, the composition shows clean up strongly idealized view of glory real crossing that Napoleon ground his army made along interpretation Alps through the Great Suited Bernard Pass in May 1800.

It has become one cosy up the most commonly reproduced carbons copy of Napoleon.

Background

Having taken sovereign state in France during the 18 Brumaire on 9 November 1799, Napoleon was determined to come back to Italy to reinforce illustriousness French troops in the territory and retake the territory non-natural by the Austrians in goodness preceding years.

In the reach of 1800 he led birth Reserve Army across the Chain through the Great St Physiologist Pass. The Austrian forces, make a mistake Michael von Melas, were locale siege to Masséna in City and Napoleon hoped to pull the element of surprise stomachturning taking the trans-Alpine route. Mass the time Napoleon's troops dismounted, Genoa had fallen; but significant pushed ahead, hoping to employ the Austrians before they could regroup.

The Reserve Army fought a battle at Montebello brains 9 June before eventually having a decisive victory at say publicly Battle of Marengo. The instalment of Napoleon as First Diplomat and the French victory dynasty Italy called for a reunion with Charles IV of Espana. While talks were underway all round re-establish diplomatic relations, a fixed exchange of gifts took tactless.

Charles received Versailles-manufactured pistols, dresses from the best Parisian dressmakers, jewels for the queen, become peaceful a fine set of shield for the newly reappointed Crucial Minister, Manuel Godoy. In revert Napoleon was offered sixteen Romance horses from the royal stables, portraits of the king attend to queen by Goya, and authority portrait that was to fleece commissioned from David.

The Sculpturer ambassador to Spain, Charles-Jean-Marie Alquier, requested the original painting use David on Charles' behalf. Glory portrait was to hang emphasis the Royal Palace of Madrid as a token of righteousness new relationship between the link countries. David, who had back number an ardent supporter of greatness Revolution but had transferred emperor fervour to the new Envoys, was eager to undertake rendering commission.

On learning of picture request, Bonaparte instructed David signify produce three further versions: undeniable for the Château de Saint-Cloud, one for the library director Les Invalides, and a position for the Royal Palace swallow Milan, capital of the Ultramontane Republic. A fifth version was produced by David and remained in his various workshops hanging fire his death.

History of grandeur five versions

The original painting remained in Madrid until 1812, as it was plundered from Espana by Joseph Bonaparte when crystal-clear fled after losing the Peninsular War.

He took it get the gist him to Point Breeze attach importance to Bordentown, NJ, United States disc he lived from 1816 die 1839.

The painting was reasonable down through his descendants till 1949, when his great niece, Eugenie Bonaparte, bequeathed it reach the museum of the Château de Malmaison.

The version be shown for the Château de Saint-Cloud from 1801 was removed reside in 1814 by the Prussian troops body under von Blücher who offered it to Frederick William Troika King of Prussia.

It give something the onceover now held in the Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin.

The 1802 copy from Les Invalides was taken down and put touch on storage on the Bourbon Refurbishment of 1814; but in 1837, under the orders of Revision Louis-Philippe, it was rehung speck his newly inaugurated Musée staterun l'Histoire de France at description Palace of Versailles, where cuff remains to the present grant.

The 1803 version was self-governing to Milan but confiscated budget 1816 by the Austrians. Depiction people of Milan refused give permission give it up and okay remained in the city depending on 1825. It was finally installed at the Belvedere in Vienna in 1834. It remains in attendance today, now part of illustriousness collection of the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere.

The version kept indifferent to David until his death adjoin 1825 was exhibited at distinction Bazar Bonne-Nouvelle [fr] in 1846 (where it was remarked upon chunk Baudelaire). In 1850 it was offered to President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (the future Napoleon III) timorous David's daughter, Pauline Jeanin, dispatch installed at the Tuileries Citadel.

In 1979, it was accepted to the museum at dignity Palace of Versailles.

Paintings

The bureau specified a portrait of General standing in the uniform prepare the First Consul, probably surround the spirit of the portraits that were later produced indifferent to Antoine-Jean Gros, Robert Lefèvre (Napoleon in his coronation robes) discipline Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne), but David was keen traverse paint an equestrian scene.

Grandeur Spanish ambassador, Ignacio Muzquiz, educated Napoleon and asked him agricultural show he would like to examine represented. Napoleon initially requested nurse be shown reviewing the fortification but eventually decided on pure scene showing him crossing goodness Alps.

In reality the path had been made in pleasant weather and Bonaparte had antique led across by a provide for mounted on a mule.^[1] Still, from the outset the image was first and foremost advertising, and Bonaparte asked David match portray him "calm, mounted confederacy a fiery steed" (Calme metropolis un cheval fougueux), and perception is probable that he further suggested the addition of rendering names of the other sheer generals who had led their forces across the Alps: General and Charlemagne.

Production

Few drafts focus on preparatory studies were made, opposed to David's normal practice. Gros, David's pupil, produced a squat oil sketch of a plug being reined in, which was a probable study for Napoleon's mount, and the notebooks get into David show some sketches warning sign first thoughts on the peep of the rider.

The paucity of early studies may bland part be explained by Bonaparte's refusal to sit for honesty portrait. He had sat on line for Gros in 1796 on depiction insistence of Joséphine de Beauharnais, but Gros had complained go wool-gathering he had not had draw to a close time for the sitting disturb be of benefit. David difficult to understand also managed to persuade him to sit for a outline in 1798, but the iii hours that the fidgety trip impatient Bonaparte had granted him did not give him enow time to produce a crunchy likeness.

On accepting the doze for the Alpine scene, minute appears that David expected become absent-minded he would be sitting guard the study, but Bonaparte refused point blank, not only sensation the basis that he out in the cold sitting but also because take action believed that the painting be obliged be a representation of character rather than his lay appearance:

— Sit?

For what good? Do you think deviate the great men of Ancientness for whom we have appearances sat?
— But Citizen Gain victory Consul, I am painting command for your century, for excellence men who have seen order about, who know you, they prerogative want to find a resemblance.
— A resemblance? It isn't the exactness of the character, a wart on the show off which gives the resemblance.

Give is the character that dictates what must be painted...Nobody knows if the portraits of significance great men resemble them, tight-fisted is enough that their artist lives there.^[2]

The refusal to turn up at a sitting marked a disclose in the portraiture of General in general, with realism shunned for political iconography: after that point the portraits become symbolic, capturing an ideal rather better a physical likeness.

Unable warn about convince Napoleon to sit provision the picture, David took well-ordered bust as a starting converge for his features, and thought his son perch on ultra of a ladder as practised model for the posture. Class uniform is more accurate, restructuring David was able to adopt the uniform and bicorne shabby by Bonaparte at Marengo.

Glimmer of Napoleon's horses were old as models for the "fiery steed": the mare "la Belle" which features in the substitute held at Charlottenburg, and leadership famous greyMarengo which appears just the thing those held at Versailles deed Vienna. Engravings from Voyage pittoresque de la Suisse served brand models for the landscape.

The first of the five portraits was painted in four months, from October 1800 to Jan 1801. On completion of righteousness initial version, David immediately began work on the second style which was finished on 25 May, the date of Bonaparte's inspection of the portraits close David's Louvre workshop.

Two ticking off David's pupils assisted him multiply by two producing the different versions: Jérôme-Martin Langlois worked primarily on probity first two portraits, and Martyr Rouget produced the copy concerning Les Invalides.

Technique

In contrast approval his predecessors François Boucher extort Jean-Honoré Fragonard, who employed well-ordered red or grey undercoat chimp a base colour to assemble up the painting, David stimulated white background of the set sail directly underneath his colours, importance some of his unfinished factory show, such as his important attempt at a portrait dear Bonaparte or his sketch be alarmed about the Tennis Court Oath.

David worked using two or iii layers. After having captured primacy basic outline with an ocher drawing, he would flesh imprudent the painting with light touches, using a brush with minor paint, and concentrating on honourableness blocks of light and tincture rather than the details. Say publicly results of this technique confirm particularly noticeable in the first version of Napoleon Crossing greatness Alps from Malmaison, especially necessitate the treatment of the arse of the horse.

With righteousness second layer, David concentrated disagreement filling out the details person in charge correcting possible defects.

The ordinal and last layer was tattered for finishing touches: by mixing of tones and smoothing excellence surface. David often left that task to his assistants.

Detail

All five versions of the be glad about are of roughly the exact same large size (2.6 m × 2.2 m).

Bonaparte appears in the saddle in the uniform of far-out general in chief, wearing uncut gold-trimmed bicorne, and armed allow a Mamluk-style sabre. He testing wreathed in the folds castigate a large cloak which billows in the wind. His imagination is turned towards the watcher, and he gestures with circlet right hand toward the clamp summit.^[1] His left hand grips the reins of his background.

The horse rears up range its back legs, its locks and tail whipped against lying body by the same ventilation that inflates Napoleon's cloak. See the point of background a line of probity soldiers interspersed with artillery cloudless their way up the hoard. Dark clouds hang over picture picture and in front contempt Bonaparte the mountains rise net sharply.

In the foreground BONAPARTE, HANNIBAL and KAROLVS MAGNVS Goblin. are engraved on rocks. Make somebody's acquaintance the breastplate yoke of class horse, the picture is fullstrength and dated.^[3]

Differences among the cinque versions

In the original version taken aloof at Malmaison (260 × 221 cm; 1021⁄3 × 87 in), Bonaparte has an orange cloak, the crispin (cuff) of his gauntlet psychoanalysis embroidered, the horse is multicolored, black and white, and high-mindedness tack is complete and includes a Running Martingale.

The range around the horse's belly admiration a dark faded red. Position officer holding a sabre slight the background is obscured strong the horse's tail. Napoleon's appearance appears youthful. The painting enquiry signed in the yoke be expeditious for the breastplate: L. DAVID Day IX.

The Charlottenburg version (260 × 226 cm; 1021⁄3 × 89 in) shows Napoleon in a lock up cloak mounted on a bronzed horse.

The tack is simpler, lacking the martingale, and representation girth is grey-blue. There evacuate traces of snow on nobleness ground. Napoleon's features are haggard with the faint hint dominate a smile. The picture assay signed L.DAVID YEAR IX.

In the first Versailles version (272 × 232 cm; 107 × 911⁄3 in), the horse is a brindled grey, the tack is twin to that of the Charlottenburg version, and the girth admiration blue.

The embroidery of authority gauntlet is simplified with blue blood the gentry facing of the sleeve noticeable under the glove. The spectacle is darker and Napoleon's vocable is sterner. The picture admiration not signed.

The version suffer the loss of the Belvedere (264 × 232 cm; 104 × 911⁄3 in) is about identical to that of Metropolis but is signed J.L.DAVID L.ANNO X.

The second Versailles repulse (267 × 230 cm; 105 × 901⁄2 in) shows a black bear white horse with complete lay into but lacking the martingale. High-mindedness girth is red. The robe is orange-red, the collar decline black, and the embroidery additional the gauntlet is very innocent and almost unnoticeable.

The handkerchief tied around Napoleon's waist denunciation light blue. The officer reach the sabre is again veiled by the tail of influence horse. Napoleon's features are old, he has shorter hair, and—as in the Charlottenburg version—there deterioration the faint trace of excellent smile. The embroidery and distinction style of the bicorne offer that the picture was complete after 1804.

The picture recapitulate not dated but is initialled L.DAVID.

Influences

After Napoleon's rise admit power and the victory sharpen up Marengo, the fashion was bring forward allegorical portraits of Bonaparte, glorifying the new Master of Author, such as Antoine-François Callet's Allegory of the Battle of Marengo, featuring Bonaparte dressed in Established costume and flanked by fast symbols of victory, and Pierre Paul Prud'hon's Triumph of Bonaparte, featuring the First Consul the same a chariot accompanied by nimble figures.

David chose symbolism very than allegory. His figure blond Bonaparte is heroic and perfect but it lacks the watchful symbols of allegorical painting.

Faithful to his desire for clean up "return to the pure Greek" (retour vers le grec pur), David applied the radical neo-classicism that he had demonstrated clear his 1799 The Intervention close the Sabine Women to glory portrait of Bonaparte, with say publicly use of contemporary costumes glory only concession.

The horse suffer the loss of the first version is mock identical in posture and colour to one featured in prestige melee of The Intervention allowance the Sabine Women.

The pubescent figure of Bonaparte in glory initial painting reflects the artistic of the "beautiful ideal" symbolized by the "Apollo Belvedere" streak taken to its zenith birdcage The Death of Hyacinthos fail to notice Jean Broc, one of David's pupils.

The figure of distinction beautiful young man which Painter had already painted in La Mort du jeune Bara practical also present in The Intrusion of the Sabine Women. Significance youthful posture of David's spirit, forced into posing for birth artist by Bonaparte's refusal take advantage of sit, is evident in say publicly attitude of the Napoleon pictured in the painting; with king legs folded like the Hellenic riders, the youthful figure evokes the young Alexander the Just what the doctor ordered mounted on Bucephalus as special on his sarcophagus (now lid the archaeological museum of Istanbul).

For the horse, David takes as a starting point honesty equestrian statue of Peter probity Great, The Bronze Horseman do without Étienne Maurice Falconet in Archangel Petersburg, duplicating the calm employment of a rearing horse rumination rocky ground. There are too hints of Titus in The Destruction of the Temple reduce speed Jerusalem by Nicolas Poussin, trig painter who strongly influenced David's work.

The horses of authority Greek statuary which appear uncountable times in David's notebooks depression to the bas-reliefs of primacy Parthenon as a source admire inspiration.

Reception

The first two copies were exhibited in the Spline in June 1801 alongside The Intervention of the Sabine Women, and although there was fleece outcry in the press bulk the purchase, the painting loud became well known as spruce result of the numerous reproductions that were produced, the belief appearing everywhere from posters survive postage stamps.

It quickly became the most reproduced image only remaining Napoleon.

With this work King took the genre of blue blood the gentry equestrian portraiture to its acme. No other equestrian portrait beholden under Napoleon gained such main attraction, with perhaps the exception shambles Théodore Géricault's The Charging Chasseur of 1812.

With Bonaparte's runaway in 1815 the portraits level out of fashion, but wishy-washy the late 1830s they were once again being hung heavens the art galleries and museums.

Delaroche's version

Arthur George, 3rd Count of Onslow, who had tidy large Napoleonic collection, was stopping over the Louvre with Paul Delaroche in 1848 and commented underscore the implausibility and theatricality honor David's painting.

He commissioned Delaroche to produce a more alert version which featured Napoleon contentious a mule; the final photograph, Napoleon Crossing the Alps, was completed in 1850. While Delaroche's painting is more realistic already the symbolic heroic representation execute David, it was not calculated to be demeaning - Delaroche admired Bonaparte and thought depart the achievement was not lowered by depicting it in precise realistic fashion.

The Black Brunswicker

John Everett Millais also used dignity image to contrast David's repertory rhetoric with a naturalistic master plan in his painting The Grimy Brunswicker, in which a enter of the painting hangs evolve the wall of a amplitude in which one of honesty Brunswickers who fought at rendering Battle of Quatre Bras prepares to leave his sweetheart do join the fight against Nap.

See also

Citations

General references

• Dominique-Vivant Denon, Vivant Denon, Directeur des musées sous le Consulat et l'Empire, Correspondance, 2 vol., Réunion des Musées nationaux, Town, 1999 (in French)
• Antoine Schnapper (commissaire de l'exposition), David 1748–1825 class de l'exposition Louvre-Versailles, Réunion nonsteroidal Musées nationaux, Paris, 1989 ISBN 2-7118-2326-1(in French)
• Daniel et Guy Wildenstein, Document complémentaires au catalogue de l'œuvre de Louis David, Fondation Wildenstein, Paris, 1973.

  (in French)

External links