- The Coronation of Napoleon
Infobox Painting
image_size = 320px
title = The Coronation of Napoleon
artist =Jacques-Louis David
year = 1805–07 (exhibited 1808)
type =Oil on canvas
height = 621
width = 979
city =Paris ,France
museum =Louvre The Coronation of Napoleon is a painting completed in 1807 by
Jacques-Louis David , the official painter ofNapoleon . The painting has imposing dimensions, as it is almost ten metres by six. The crowning and the coronation took place atNotre-Dame de Paris , a way for Napoleon to make it clear that he was a son of the Revolution.History of the work
The work was commissioned by
Napoleon orally in September1804 and its official title is "Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of the Empress Josephine in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris on 2 December 1804."Jacques-Louis David began his execution on December 21,1805 in the former chapel of theCollege of Cluny , near theSorbonne , which serves as a workshop. Assisted by his studentGeorges Rouget , he put the finishing touches in November1807 . From February 7 to 21 March 1808, the work was exhibited at the Salon annual painting display in 1810, and it is presented to the decennial price competition. The picture remained the property of David until 1819, when he is transferred to the Royal Museums, where it was stored in the reserves until 1837. Then, it was installed in the Chamber Sacre du museum of historical Palace of Versailles on the orders ofKing Louis-Philippe . In 1889, the painting was transferred to theLouvre from Versailles and replaced by a replica of the late painter's hand.Composition
The painting is covered by several guidelines and incorporates the rules of
neoclassicism . A key is that which passes through the cross and has a vertical orientation. All eyes seem to converge towards Napoleon who is the center of the composition. A diagonal line runs from thepope to theempress .Characters
#
Napoleon (1769-1821), is standing, holding sacred, similar to that of Roman emperors, others are merely passive spectators.
#Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), is kneeling in a submissive position, as called for in the Civil Code French. She received the crown from the hands of her husband, not the pope. His robe is decorated with silk according to Cartoon by Jean-Francois Bony.
#Maria Letizia Ramolino (1750-1836), mother of Napoleon, was placed in the stands by the painter. It occupies a place more important than the pope. Actually, she did not attend the ceremony to protest the blurring of Napoleon with his brother Lucien. Napoleon's father, Charles Bonaparte died in 1785. Maria Letizia asked the painter to give it a place of honor. In 1808, when Napoleon discovered the canvas completed in the workshop of David, he was transported, and said his gratitude to the painter who had managed to pay tribute to posterity to the affection he was carrying a woman who shared with him the burden of his office.
#Louis Bonaparte (1778-1846), at the beginning of the empire, he received the title of grand constable. King of Holland in 1806. He marriedHortense de Beauharnais , the daughter of Josephine.
#Joseph Bonaparte (1768-1844), after the coronation, he received the title of imperial prince. Then he was king of Naples in 1806 and Spain in 1808.
# The youngCharles Napoleon (1802-1807), son ofLouis Bonaparte andHortense de Beauharnais .
# The sisters of Napoleon.
#Charles-Francois Lebrun (1739-1824), the third consul alongside Napoleon andCambacérès . Under theFirst Empire , it took the place of prince-architrésorier. He holds thesceptre .
#Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès (1753-1824), archichancelier prince of the empire. It takes the hand of justice.
#Louis-Alexandre Berthier (1753-1815), minister of war under theConsulate . Marshal Empire in 1805. He keeps the globe surmounted by a cross.
#Talleyrand (1754-1836), grand chamberlain since July 11, 1804.
#Joachim Murat (1767-1815), marshal of empire, king of Naples after 1808, brother-in-law ofNapoleon and husband ofCaroline Bonaparte .
#Pope Pius VII (1742-1823), was content to bless the coronation. It is surrounded by dignitaries clerics, appointed byNapoleon since the Concordat. In order not to jeopardize the new balance between Church and State, the pope accepted to attend the coronation.
# The painterJacques-Louis David lies in the stands.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.