The painting here is halfway between allegory and history painting. In it Pierre-Désiré Guillemet shows The victory of Magenta announced to the Regency Council. The Regency Council was appointed after the assassination attempt on Napoleon and Eugénie of 1858. Its members were the Empress Eugénie, the Prince Napoléon and other dignitaries of the regime, and it would govern the empire if the emperor were to be incapacitated.
In the painting, the Empress Eugenie holds the Prince imperial on her knees. Next to her stands the Prince Jérôme, Napoleon III's uncle. In the foreground, the other members of the Regency Council are split into two groups. An allegorical victory is borne by an eagle bearing an olive branch announcing the victory of Magenta.
These images form part of our close-up on: the battles of Magenta and Solferino, 1859.
The victory at Magenta announced to the Regency council
Artist(s) : GUILLEMET Pierre Désiré
- Date :
- 1859
- Technique :
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions :
- H = 0.335 m, L = 0.245 m
- Place held :
- Compiègne, château
- Photo credit :
- (c) RMN