Napoleon 1st In His Work Cabinet At The Tuileries By David

This black and white engraving, drawn by Eugène Bourgeois, pupil of David, and engraved by Noel Bertrand under the direction of the first painter of the Emperor is a bust portrait after the painting by the Master executed in 1812. The original painting is a full-size portrait in natural size on the foot. He wears the uniform of an officer of the grenadiers on foot, dark blue with white lapel and red sleeve with white vest. He wears the decoration of the Legion of Honor and the Order of the Iron Crown with golden epaulettes. The decor in the original painting represents his work desk at the Tuileries. An almost consumed candle, as well as the late hour displayed on the pendulum (4h10mn) indicate that the sovereign has passed at night to work on the civil code, a copy of which is placed on his chair. The intention of the painting is to show a military leader and a powerful statesman, administrator and legislator with the capacity to work hor s of the common. It is a political and civil portrait.