Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
In 1806 when the painting was commissioned Napoleon was at the height of his power. Two years earlier he was crowned emperor of France in the company of the pope. At the same time his empire was at its greatest extent covering most of mainland Europe. This painting was not commissioned by Napoleon, but was purchased by the French Legislature. There are many symbols spread not so subtly throughout the painting which connect Napoleon to Cesar. He is wearing a golden wreath on his head and the eagle on the carpet. Both of which were famous pieces carried by Cesar. In Napoleon’s Right hand he hold staff of office, in his left hand he holds the hand of justice. On the carpet there is also a balance representing his justice. The regal nature of this painting is almost overwhelming, the painting makes a statement about Napoleon’s absolute power and authority. However this was exactly the opposite message that the French government was trying to make at the time. France had just come out of a revolution that ended in the previous leader of the country losing their head. So they wanted to portray him as the leader of the new French Republic, clearly this caused a propaganda nightmare for the government because he was supposed to be portrayed as a man of the people not an emperor. This painting showed everything that went wrong with Napoleon’s empire. It grew too big, too grand and too far from the ideals of the French revolution.
In 1806 when the painting was commissioned Napoleon was at the height of his power. Two years earlier he was crowned emperor of France in the company of the pope. At the same time his empire was at its greatest extent covering most of mainland Europe. This painting was not commissioned by Napoleon, but was purchased by the French Legislature. There are many symbols spread not so subtly throughout the painting which connect Napoleon to Cesar. He is wearing a golden wreath on his head and the eagle on the carpet. Both of which were famous pieces carried by Cesar. In Napoleon’s Right hand he hold staff of office, in his left hand he holds the hand of justice. On the carpet there is also a balance representing his justice. The regal nature of this painting is almost overwhelming, the painting makes a statement about Napoleon’s absolute power and authority. However this was exactly the opposite message that the French government was trying to make at the time. France had just come out of a revolution that ended in the previous leader of the country losing their head. So they wanted to portray him as the leader of the new French Republic, clearly this caused a propaganda nightmare for the government because he was supposed to be portrayed as a man of the people not an emperor. This painting showed everything that went wrong with Napoleon’s empire. It grew too big, too grand and too far from the ideals of the French revolution.
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