WASHINGTON DC, United States — "The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries" by Jacques-Louis David, on display at the National Gallery of Art. This iconic 1812 portrait depicts Napoleon Bonaparte as both a military leader and a civil administrator, emphasizing his role in creating the Napoleonic Code. The painting's rich detail and symbolism reflect David's mastery in creating politically powerful images.
Photograph by David Coleman. "The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries" is a masterpiece of Neoclassical portraiture by Jacques-Louis David, painted in 1812. This work exemplifies David's exceptional ability to blend realism with political symbolism, a skill that made him the preeminent painter of the French Revolution and Napoleonic era. The painting, measuring x inches ( x cm), is oil on canvas. It portrays Napoleon Bonaparte in his colonel's uniform of the Foot Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard, standing in his study at the Tuileries Palace. David's attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the composition, from Napoleon's slightly disheveled appearance suggesting a night of work, to the carefully placed objects symbolizing his military and civil achievements. The flickering candles, the clock showing 4:13 , and the scattered papers reinforce the narrative of Napoleon's tireless work on the Napoleonic Code. The sword placed on the chair and the word "Code" visible on the papers create a visual balance between Napoleon's roles as a military leader and a lawgiver. The inclusion of heraldic bees and fleurs-de-lys subtly connects Napoleon's rule to French absolutism. This painting, now housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, , not only serves as a historical document but also as a prime example of art as a tool for political representation and propaganda in early 19th-century France.
Size: 7041px × 4699px
Location: National Gallery of Art, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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