This article is about the painting by Paul Delaroche. For the painting by Jacques-Louis David, see Napoleon Crossing the Alps.
Bonaparte Crossing the Alps (sometimes called Napoleon Crossing the Alps, which is also the title of Jacques-Louis David's better-known version of the subject) is a 1848–1850[2] oil painting by French artist Paul Delaroche.[3][4] The painting depicts Napoleon Bonaparte leading his army through the Alps on a mule,[I] a journey Napoleon and his army of soldiers made in the spring of 1800[5] in an attempt to surprise the Austrian army in Italy.[6][7] Several versions of this painting exist: in the Louvre- Lens and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, England. Queen Victoria owned a small version of it.[8]
As part of his 1798 campaign during the French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleon prepared to invade and conquer Egypt, which was at the time a province of the Ottoman Empire.[10] Such a military action promised numerous benefits, including securing French trade interests, and inhibiting British access to India. By 1 July 1798, Napoleon had landed on the shores of Egypt.[11] After a lengthy chain of conflicts with heavy casualties, the campaign resulted in an Ottoman-British victory. Napoleon received news from France that Austrian forces had retaken Italy and he decided to return to Paris.[citation needed]
In order to regain the upper hand, he planned to launch a surprise assault on the Austrian army stationed in the Cisalpine Republic. Based on the assumption the Austrians would never expect Napoleon's large force to be able to traverse the Alps, he chose that as his route.[12] He selected the shortest route through the Alps, the Great St Bernard Pass, which would enable him to reach his destination as quickly as possible.[13][14]
On 15 May 1800, Napoleon and his army of 40,000—not including the field artillery and baggage trains—(35,000 light artillery and infantry, 5,000 cavalry) began the arduous journey through the mountains.[15][16][17][II] During the five days spent traversing the pass, Napoleon's army consumed almost 22,000 bottles of wine, more than a tonne and a half of cheese, and around 800 kilograms of meat.[15]
Delaroche's "Napoléon abdiquant à Fontainebleau" ("Napoléon abdicated in Fontainebleau"), 1845 oil-on-canvas.
After crossing the Alps, Napoleon commenced military operations against the Austrian army. Despite an inauspicious start to the campaign, the Austrian forces were driven back to Marengo after nearly a month. There, a large battle took place on 14 June, which resulted in the Austrian evacuation of Italy.[2]
Artist and commissionEdit
Jacques-Louis David's version of the scene differs a great deal from Delaroche's idea of Napoleon's crossing of the Alps.
Delaroche, who studied with Antoine-Jean Gros, a protege of David, was a popular French painter of portraits and grand subjects from history and the Bible.[18][19][20]
The Liverpool painting was commissioned by Arthur George, Third Earl of Onslow, after Delaroche and George reportedly visited the Louvre in Paris, where they saw David's version of the famous event. It had only recently been re-hung in the museum after a resurgence of interest in Napoleon, nearly 40 years after he was exiled.[IV] Agreeing that the painting was unrealistic, George, who owned a sizable collection of Napoleonic paraphernalia, commissioned Delaroche to create a more realistic depiction.[21] Elizabeth Foucart-Walker asserts that in fact the painting that hangs in the Louvre-Lens was produced first as it was already in America by 1850, when the Liverpool painting was produced. Stephen Bann suggests that Arthur George's meeting with Delaroche may have occurred, but Delaroche chose to produce two works that are almost identical and send one to America.[22]
Delaroche's picture of Napoleon crossing the Alps
Unconscious of the dreary wastes around,
Of sleet that pierces with each fitful blast, The icy peaks, the rough and treacherous ground, Huge snow-drifts by the whirlwind's breath amassed, Through which the jaded mule with noiseless tread, Patient and slow, a certain foothold seeks, By the old peasant-guide so meekly led; Moves the wan conqueror, with sunken cheeks, O'er heights as cold and lonely as his soul,- The chill lips blandly set, and the dark eyes Intent with fierce ambition's vast control, Sad, keen and thoughtful of the distant prize; With the imperial robes and warlike steed,
That face ne'er wore such blended might and need![23]
The work, despite its attempt to depict Napoleon realistically, was criticised by several authorities for a variety of reasons. A few disapproved of Delaroche's choice of painting, while others disapproved of Delaroche himself, saying, in some form, that he sought the genius of Napoleon, to no avail.[24]
Soon after its completion, the work was taken to England, and there, in 1850, it was reviewed by the critic of the Atheneum,[VI] a literary magazine.[25] The magazine's comments on the work indicated that, while they praised the painting for several of its features, they criticised Delaroche, for various reasons:
An Officer in a French costume, mounted on a mule, is conducted by a rough peasant through a dangerous pass, whose traces are scarcely discernible through the deep-lying snow; and his aide-de-camp is just visible in a ravine of the towering Alps. These facts are rendered with a fidelity that has not omitted the plait of a drapery, the shaggy texture of the four-footed animal, nor a detail of the harness on his back. The drifting of the embedded snow, the pendent icicle which a solitary sun-ray in a transient moment has made-all are given with a truth which will be dear to those who exalt the Dutch School for like qualities into the foremost rank of excellence. But the lofty and daring genius that led the humble Lieutenant of Ajaccio to be ruler and arbiter of the destinies of the larger part of Europe will be sought in vain by M. Delaroche.[24]
Some were displeased with Delaroche's work at the time in general, and, in part, Bonaparte Crossing the Alps, criticising what was described as his 'lowered standards in art'. Such critics included The Gentleman's Magazine, who wrote the following text about Delaroche:
These all reveal a modification in his style, but not a happy one. His more recent works are not calculated to restore him the sympathy he had lost. It must be confessed that Delaroche is an artist of talent rather than a genius. Education and diligent study qualified him to be a painter, but not an artist, in the true sense of that word. For he has failed in the true mission of the artist-that of advancing the education of the masses; when it was in his power to give an impulse, he yielded to it; he has been a reflection, but not a light; and instead of elevating the public to himself, he has lowered himself to the public.[26]
NotesEdit
I^ Bonaparte chose to ride across the alps on a mule (obtained at a convent at Martigny)[27] rather than a steed, the typical gentleman's mount at the time, because the mule was considered to be more sure-footed on the slippery slopes and narrow passes of the Alps, and to be more sturdy and hardy while making such a perilous journey on such volatile terrain.[28][29]
II^ Napoleon ordered the assemblage of over 5,000 artillery for transport through the pass, despite the fact that the pass was widely considered to be much too narrow, and the route too volatile and unstable, to allow any form of artillery, light or heavy, to come through. Thus, Napoleon's military advisers warned him against this move, but he insisted on this presence of this great number of artillery.[30]
III^ In addition to these figures, approximately 3,600 French men were wounded, with over 900 captured or missing, and almost 5,520 Austrians were wounded, with over 2,900 captured (missing numbers cannot be accurately estimated).[31]
IV^ The painting was rehung as a result of the revival of Napoleon's reputation, and a fresh interest into his exploits. However, before this, in 1815, the year Napoleon was exiled, Napoleonic-themed art was proscribed for artists and painters, as he was not well liked because of events that had occurred in the few years immediately preceding 1815, and Napoleon's exile. It was only truly by the 1830s that artwork related to the emperor was being created once more. As such, after being removed from the walls of the Louvre around 1815, David's version had been re-hung by the time Delaroche observed it.[24]
V^ The king of Spain (of the time) commissioned Jacques-Louis David's Napoleon Crossing the Alps as a friendly gesture towards Napoleon, hoping that the flattering gift would strengthen relationships between France and Spain, to the degree that Napoleon would not consider invading Spain and taking it over, after he became emperor. However, the king of Spain's attempt failed, and, soon after Napoleon crowned himself emperor, he crossed the Pyrenees and conquered Spain.[32]
VI^ The Athenæum was a widely read literary magazine or periodical that was published in London between 1828 and 1923. Published weekly,[33] the Athenæum grew and expanded to become one of the most influential and most widely read periodical of the Victorian era. Most of its content was composed of articles, reviews, and scientific and political news, among others.[25] The topics covered in these texts included works of literature, fine art, music and theatre, science and politics.[33]
CitationsEdit
^"Napoleon Crossing the Alps, Artwork details". Retrieved 23 June 2019.
^ ab. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
^"DELAROCHE, Paul – Bonaparte Crossing the Alps". Retrieved 5 August 2007.
^. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
Alison, A. History of Europe from the Commencement of the French Revolution in MDCCLXXXIX to the Restoration of the Bourbons in MDCCCXV. W. Blackwood and sons, 1854.
Britt, A.B. The Wars of Napoleon. Square One Publishers, Inc., 2003. ISBN0-7570-0154-8.
Bunbury, H.E. Narratives of some passages in the great war with France, from 1799 to 1810. 1854.
Murray, C.J. Encyclopedia of the Romantic Era, 1760–1850. Taylor & Francis, 2004. ISBN1-57958-422-5
Quilley, G.; Bonehill, J. Conflicting Visions: War and Visual Culture in Britain and France, C. 1700–1830 Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2005. ISBN0-7546-0575-2.
Thiers, M.A. History of the Consulate and the Empire of France Under Napoleon. Kessinger Publishing, 2005. ISBN1-4179-5621-6.
Tuckerman, H.T. Poems. Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1851.
Walther, I.F.; Suckale, R. Masterpieces of Western Art: A History of Art in 900 Individual Studies Taschen, 2002.
Other
DELAROCHE, Paul – Bonaparte Crossing the Alps
Bonaparte Crossing the Alps, 1848, Paul Delaroche (1797–1856)
External linksEdit
Zoomable image of the artwork
October 26, 2023
bonaparte, crossing, alps, this, article, about, painting, paul, delaroche, painting, jacques, louis, david, napoleon, crossing, alps, sometimes, called, napoleon, crossing, alps, which, also, title, jacques, louis, david, better, known, version, subject, 1848. This article is about the painting by Paul Delaroche For the painting by Jacques Louis David see Napoleon Crossing the Alps Bonaparte Crossing the Alps sometimes called Napoleon Crossing the Alps which is also the title of Jacques Louis David s better known version of the subject is a 1848 1850 2 oil painting by French artist Paul Delaroche 3 4 The painting depicts Napoleon Bonaparte leading his army through the Alps on a mule I a journey Napoleon and his army of soldiers made in the spring of 1800 5 in an attempt to surprise the Austrian army in Italy 6 7 Several versions of this painting exist in the Louvre Lens and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool England Queen Victoria owned a small version of it 8 Bonaparte Crossing the AlpsArtistPaul DelarocheYear1850MediumOil on canvasDimensions289 cm 222 cm 114 in 87 in LocationWalker Art Gallery 1 LiverpoolThe work was inspired by Jacques Louis David s series of five paintings of Napoleon Crossing the Alps 1801 1805 which present a glorified vision of Napoleon calm on a spirited horse 9 rather than a mule crossing Great St Bernard Pass Contents 1 Painting 1 1 Historical background 1 2 Artist and commission 2 Reception 3 Notes 4 Citations 5 References 6 External linksPainting Edit nbsp Battle of the Pyramids 1798 1799 by Francois Louis Joseph Watteau depicts the battle of the same name which occurred during Napoleon s Egyptian campaign Historical background Edit As part of his 1798 campaign during the French Revolutionary Wars Napoleon prepared to invade and conquer Egypt which was at the time a province of the Ottoman Empire 10 Such a military action promised numerous benefits including securing French trade interests and inhibiting British access to India By 1 July 1798 Napoleon had landed on the shores of Egypt 11 After a lengthy chain of conflicts with heavy casualties the campaign resulted in an Ottoman British victory Napoleon received news from France that Austrian forces had retaken Italy and he decided to return to Paris citation needed In order to regain the upper hand he planned to launch a surprise assault on the Austrian army stationed in the Cisalpine Republic Based on the assumption the Austrians would never expect Napoleon s large force to be able to traverse the Alps he chose that as his route 12 He selected the shortest route through the Alps the Great St Bernard Pass which would enable him to reach his destination as quickly as possible 13 14 On 15 May 1800 Napoleon and his army of 40 000 not including the field artillery and baggage trains 35 000 light artillery and infantry 5 000 cavalry began the arduous journey through the mountains 15 16 17 II During the five days spent traversing the pass Napoleon s army consumed almost 22 000 bottles of wine more than a tonne and a half of cheese and around 800 kilograms of meat 15 nbsp Delaroche s Napoleon abdiquant a Fontainebleau Napoleon abdicated in Fontainebleau 1845 oil on canvas After crossing the Alps Napoleon commenced military operations against the Austrian army Despite an inauspicious start to the campaign the Austrian forces were driven back to Marengo after nearly a month There a large battle took place on 14 June which resulted in the Austrian evacuation of Italy 2 Artist and commission Edit nbsp Jacques Louis David s version of the scene differs a great deal from Delaroche s idea of Napoleon s crossing of the Alps Delaroche who studied with Antoine Jean Gros a protege of David was a popular French painter of portraits and grand subjects from history and the Bible 18 19 20 The Liverpool painting was commissioned by Arthur George Third Earl of Onslow after Delaroche and George reportedly visited the Louvre in Paris where they saw David s version of the famous event It had only recently been re hung in the museum after a resurgence of interest in Napoleon nearly 40 years after he was exiled IV Agreeing that the painting was unrealistic George who owned a sizable collection of Napoleonic paraphernalia commissioned Delaroche to create a more realistic depiction 21 Elizabeth Foucart Walker asserts that in fact the painting that hangs in the Louvre Lens was produced first as it was already in America by 1850 when the Liverpool painting was produced Stephen Bann suggests that Arthur George s meeting with Delaroche may have occurred but Delaroche chose to produce two works that are almost identical and send one to America 22 Delaroche s picture of Napoleon crossing the AlpsUnconscious of the dreary wastes around Of sleet that pierces with each fitful blast The icy peaks the rough and treacherous ground Huge snow drifts by the whirlwind s breath amassed Through which the jaded mule with noiseless tread Patient and slow a certain foothold seeks By the old peasant guide so meekly led Moves the wan conqueror with sunken cheeks O er heights as cold and lonely as his soul The chill lips blandly set and the dark eyes Intent with fierce ambition s vast control Sad keen and thoughtful of the distant prize With the imperial robes and warlike steed That face ne er wore such blended might and need 23 H T Tuckerman s poem describing Delaroche s portrayal Reception EditThe work despite its attempt to depict Napoleon realistically was criticised by several authorities for a variety of reasons A few disapproved of Delaroche s choice of painting while others disapproved of Delaroche himself saying in some form that he sought the genius of Napoleon to no avail 24 Soon after its completion the work was taken to England and there in 1850 it was reviewed by the critic of the Atheneum VI a literary magazine 25 The magazine s comments on the work indicated that while they praised the painting for several of its features they criticised Delaroche for various reasons An Officer in a French costume mounted on a mule is conducted by a rough peasant through a dangerous pass whose traces are scarcely discernible through the deep lying snow and his aide de camp is just visible in a ravine of the towering Alps These facts are rendered with a fidelity that has not omitted the plait of a drapery the shaggy texture of the four footed animal nor a detail of the harness on his back The drifting of the embedded snow the pendent icicle which a solitary sun ray in a transient moment has made all are given with a truth which will be dear to those who exalt the Dutch School for like qualities into the foremost rank of excellence But the lofty and daring genius that led the humble Lieutenant of Ajaccio to be ruler and arbiter of the destinies of the larger part of Europe will be sought in vain by M Delaroche 24 Some were displeased with Delaroche s work at the time in general and in part Bonaparte Crossing the Alps criticising what was described as his lowered standards in art Such critics included The Gentleman s Magazine who wrote the following text about Delaroche These all reveal a modification in his style but not a happy one His more recent works are not calculated to restore him the sympathy he had lost It must be confessed that Delaroche is an artist of talent rather than a genius Education and diligent study qualified him to be a painter but not an artist in the true sense of that word For he has failed in the true mission of the artist that of advancing the education of the masses when it was in his power to give an impulse he yielded to it he has been a reflection but not a light and instead of elevating the public to himself he has lowered himself to the public 26 Notes EditI Bonaparte chose to ride across the alps on a mule obtained at a convent at Martigny 27 rather than a steed the typical gentleman s mount at the time because the mule was considered to be more sure footed on the slippery slopes and narrow passes of the Alps and to be more sturdy and hardy while making such a perilous journey on such volatile terrain 28 29 II Napoleon ordered the assemblage of over 5 000 artillery for transport through the pass despite the fact that the pass was widely considered to be much too narrow and the route too volatile and unstable to allow any form of artillery light or heavy to come through Thus Napoleon s military advisers warned him against this move but he insisted on this presence of this great number of artillery 30 III In addition to these figures approximately 3 600 French men were wounded with over 900 captured or missing and almost 5 520 Austrians were wounded with over 2 900 captured missing numbers cannot be accurately estimated 31 IV The painting was rehung as a result of the revival of Napoleon s reputation and a fresh interest into his exploits However before this in 1815 the year Napoleon was exiled Napoleonic themed art was proscribed for artists and painters as he was not well liked because of events that had occurred in the few years immediately preceding 1815 and Napoleon s exile It was only truly by the 1830s that artwork related to the emperor was being created once more As such after being removed from the walls of the Louvre around 1815 David s version had been re hung by the time Delaroche observed it 24 V The king of Spain of the time commissioned Jacques Louis David s Napoleon Crossing the Alps as a friendly gesture towards Napoleon hoping that the flattering gift would strengthen relationships between France and Spain to the degree that Napoleon would not consider invading Spain and taking it over after he became emperor However the king of Spain s attempt failed and soon after Napoleon crowned himself emperor he crossed the Pyrenees and conquered Spain 32 VI The Athenaeum was a widely read literary magazine or periodical that was published in London between 1828 and 1923 Published weekly 33 the Athenaeum grew and expanded to become one of the most influential and most widely read periodical of the Victorian era Most of its content was composed of articles reviews and scientific and political news among others 25 The topics covered in these texts included works of literature fine art music and theatre science and politics 33 Citations Edit Napoleon Crossing the Alps Artwork details Retrieved 23 June 2019 a b Napoleon Crossing the Alps Paul Delaroche 1797 1856 Archived from the original on 22 November 2008 Retrieved 11 August 2007 DELAROCHE Paul Bonaparte Crossing the Alps Retrieved 5 August 2007 Bonaparte Crossing the Alps 1848 Archived from the original on 7 July 2011 Retrieved 5 August 2007 Kelley T M p 207 Britt A B p 18 The American Whig Review p 455 Bann Stephen Delaroche Napoleon and English Collectors Apollo October 2005 28 Munhall Edgar 1960 Portraits of Napoleon Yale French Studies 26 3 20 doi 10 2307 2929218 ISSN 0044 0078 JSTOR 2929218 El Enany R Inc NetLibrary p 15 Clancy Smith J A p 96 Napoleon s Crossing over the Great St Bernard Pass Archived from the original on 29 September 2007 Retrieved 8 August 2007 Dodge T A p 23 Alison Archibald p 26 a b History of the Great St Bernard pass Archived from the original on 8 December 2012 Retrieved 8 August 2007 Herold J C p 134 Thiers M A p 118 The Death of Elizabeth I Queen of England source on Delaroche s style Retrieved 5 August 2007 Walther I F Suckale R p 420 Paul Delaroche 1797 1856 National Gallery London www nationalgallery org uk Retrieved 2 April 2022 Artwork of the Month Jan 2006 at liverpoolmuseums Archived from the original on 29 September 2007 Retrieved 8 August 2007 Bann Stephen Delaroche Napoleon and English Collectors Apollo October 2005 30 Tuckerman H T p 166 a b c Further reading liverpoolmuseums org Archived 8 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 6 August 2007 a b The Athenaeum Archived from the original on 27 September 2007 Retrieved 9 August 2007 The Gentleman s Magazine p 779 The American Whig Review p 456 Clubbe J p 103 Abbott J S C p 4 Bunbury H E p 61 Smith D The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book Greenhill Books 1998 Napoleon s Rise To Power at Clark Archived from the original on 27 September 2007 Retrieved 11 August 2007 a b The Athenaeum Projects Overview Retrieved 9 August 2007 References EditLiteratureAbbot J S C Napoleon Bonaparte Kessinger Publishing 2004 ISBN 1 4191 3657 7 Alison A History of Europe from the Commencement of the French Revolution in MDCCLXXXIX to the Restoration of the Bourbons in MDCCCXV W Blackwood and sons 1854 Britt A B The Wars of Napoleon Square One Publishers Inc 2003 ISBN 0 7570 0154 8 Bunbury H E Narratives of some passages in the great war with France from 1799 to 1810 1854 Chandler D G Napoleon Leo Cooper 2002 ISBN 0 85052 750 3 Clancy Smith J A North Africa Islam and the Mediterranean World From the Almoravids to the Algerian War Routledge 2001 ISBN 0 7146 5170 2 Clubbe J Byron Sully and the Power of Portraiture Ashgate Publishing Ltd 2005 ISBN 0 7546 3814 6 Dodge T A Napoleon A History of the Art of War Adamant Media Corporation 2001 ISBN 1 4021 9517 6 El Enany R Inc NetLibrary Arab Representations of the Occident East west Encounters in Arabic Fiction Routledge 2006 ISBN 0 415 33217 6 Foucart Walter E Paul Delaroche et le theme du passage du Saint Bernard par Bonaparte pp 367 384 in La Revue du Louvre No 5 6 1984 Herold J C The Age of Napoleon Houghton Mifflin Books 2002 ISBN 0 618 15461 2 Jefferies F The Gentleman s Magazine Published 1856 Kelley T M Reinventing Allegory Cambridge University Press 1997 ISBN 0 521 43207 3 The American Whig Review by the Making of America Project Published first in 1845 Mason D S Revolutionary Europe 1789 1989 Liberty Equality Solidarity Rowman amp Littlefield 2005 ISBN 0 7425 3769 2 Murray C J Encyclopedia of the Romantic Era 1760 1850 Taylor amp Francis 2004 ISBN 1 57958 422 5 Quilley G Bonehill J Conflicting Visions War and Visual Culture in Britain and France C 1700 1830 Ashgate Publishing Ltd 2005 ISBN 0 7546 0575 2 Thiers M A History of the Consulate and the Empire of France Under Napoleon Kessinger Publishing 2005 ISBN 1 4179 5621 6 Tuckerman H T Poems Ticknor Reed and Fields 1851 Walther I F Suckale R Masterpieces of Western Art A History of Art in 900 Individual Studies Taschen 2002 OtherDELAROCHE Paul Bonaparte Crossing the Alps Bonaparte Crossing the Alps 1848 Paul Delaroche 1797 1856 Bonaparte Crossing the Alps Delaroche Paul 1848External links EditZoomable image of the artwork Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bonaparte Crossing the Alps amp oldid 1161327500, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
