In pictures : 1035
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In picturesEpisode from the retreat from Russia, 1812It was the Romantics, the children of their time, who fed off the nostalgia for the Napoleonic epic and who for the most part painted the disaster in Russia. Charlet, a pupil of Gros's bets known for his lithographs, presented at the Salon of 1836 this intensely dramatic and poignant painting. Here we see the remains […]
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In picturesThe execution of MaximilianThe triumphal Paris Exposition universelle of 1867 was spoilt by a terrible international event. On 1 July, the day on which the imperial couple were to hand out the prizes, there came the dreadful news that Maximilien I, the puppet emperor placed on the Mexican throne by Napoleon III, had been executed by a firing squad. […]
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In picturesNapoleon III at the Battle of Solferino, 24 June, 1859At the beginning of the Second Empire, Meissonier was known only for his Dutch pastiche genre scenes. When the emperor bought a painting from him in order to offer it to Queen Victoria in 1855, however, Meissonier's career was made. He then became attached to the Imperial staff in Italy in 1859 and he followed […]
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In picturesBattle of Austerlitz, 2 December, 1805Commissioned as a commemoration of the Grande Armée's most famous battle and shown at the Salon of 1810, this gigantic painting was originally destined for the ceiling of the hall in which the Conseil d'Etat met. It shows the solemn moment of victory – General Rapp presents to an Olympian Napoleon the standards taken from […]
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In picturesNapoleon Emperor of the French and King of ItalyPrint published on the occasion of the marriage of Napoleon and Marie-Louise with the following anagram: “Napoléon / Empereur / des Français / et Roi d'Italie” “Ainsi / cela fera / la prospérité / du monde entier”.('Anagram. Napoleon Emperor of the French and King of Italy. From this will come the prosperity of the whole […]
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In picturesFirst distribution of the Croix de la Légion d’honneur in the Eglise des Invalides by the Emperor, 15 July, 1804 -
In picturesFirst distribution of the Croix de la Légion d’honneur at the Camp de Boulogne, 16 August, 1804West bas-relief on the Colonne de la Grande Armée in Boulogne.
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In picturesBonaparte presenting the olive branch of peace to all the powers of EuropeThis allegorical print celebrated the general peace. Bonaparte in the centre is crowned by Victory, who brings with her Abundance, whilst Time closes the doors to the Temple of Janus (these were famously closed by the Emperor Augustus to signify that Rome was not at war). The sovereigns of Europe come to receive from the […]
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In picturesBonaparte First Consul sheathing his sword after the establishment of general peaceThis famous print celebrates the Bonaparte as “Peacemaker”, from the Treaty of Lunéville (9 February, 1801) to the Peace of Amiens (25 March, 1802). The First Consul, standing in the illuminated courtyard of the Tuileries, sheathes his swords before an approving crowd. This stippled engraving is signed Alexis Chataignier. Other coloured versions exist.
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In picturesNapoleon I in his coronation robesCommissioned from Gérard in 1805 for the hôtel of the Minister for Relations extérieures, this painting of Napoleon in his “grand habillement” du Sacre (grand coronation robes) was made in great numbers so as to have one in the formal appartment of every political residence outside France, both diplomatic and consular.