This drawing depicts the scene of the exhumation of Napoleon’s body from the perspective of British witnesses situated outside of the tomb enclosure. Whereas the authorised witnesses lingered over the solemnity of the event, this view – believed to be by a sergeant from the Royal Artillery Rgt (according to a copy annotated by J. Lockwood, held at the British Library)(cited in the English-language leaflet, p.20, of the exhibition “Napoléon n’est plus” 2021) – is full of rare details, just like the Narrative itself, which was published on subscription in St Helena(ob cit).
Night View of the Exhumation
Lithograph plate taken from Narrative of Proceedings Connected with the exhumation and Removal of the remains of the late Emperor Napoleon, St Helena, by a resident, printed for the proprietor by William Bateman, 1840, [from a copy held at the Fondation Napoléon’s Bibliothèque Martial Lapeyre. It is visible here as a DIGITAL BOOK].
- Date :
- 1840
- Technique :
- lithograph
- Place held :
- Paris, Collection Fondation Napoléon, inv. B 4355
- Photo credit :
- photograph by Rebecca Young