Opening of Napoleon’s tomb, 16 [sic] oct 1841

The scene, composed using witness accounts, gives a realistic vision of the exhumation by including many details: the workers, the hoist, the willows, the British soldiers… However for the coffins artistic licence has been used. The scene represents a wide range of emotions, at the very moment Doctor Guillard moves the satin lining aside: astonishment, curiosity, contemplation…