Bonaparte at the Pont d’Arcole (French: Bonaparte au Pont d’Arcole) is an oil-on-canvas painting executed in 1796 by the French artist Antoine-Jean Gros. It depicts an episode during the Battle of Arcole in November 1796, with General Napoleon Bonaparte leading his troops to storm the bridge.
Bonaparte au pont d'Arcole, preparatory study of 1796 for the Versailles portrait (Paris Musée du Louvre), considered superior to the final painting[1]Version in the Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
The painting presents a three-quarter-length image of Bonaparte, holding the flagstaff of the Armée d'Italie in his left hand and his sword in his right – on its blade is the inscription Bonaparte, Armée d'Italie. He is dressed in the dark blue trousers and tunic of a general of the First French Republic, with a gold-embroidered red collar. Beneath them he wears a white shirt and a black neckscarf. He also wears a gold-fringed tricolor cummerbund and a square-buckled belt bearing his empty scabbard. The background suggests the smoke of battle, with a few houses in the distance on the left. The land bordering the river is painted in dark tones, with a smoking cannonball still visible.
Historyedit
The painting was commissioned by Joséphine, who was accompanying Napoleon in his Italian Campaign. Painted in Naples in 1796. Napoleon could reportedly not sit still for extended periods of time as a model for the portrait, Joséphine solved this by allowing Napoleon to sit in her lap and embracing him for the duration required by Gros.[2] The painting passed through the collections of Napoleon himself and of Napoleon III before being sequestered after the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870. It was then reacquired by Napoleon III's wife Eugénie de Montijo in 1871, who eight years later gave it to the Louvre (now inventory number RF271). It passed to the château de Compiègne in 1901, then finally the Palace of Versailles in 1938 (inventory number MV 6314).
Related worksedit
Sketch at the Musée du Louvre, it was approved by Bonaparte as the basis for the final painting
(in French)Raymond EscholierGros ses amis et ses élèves - exhibition at the Petit Palais May-July 1936, éd. Floury Paris 1936 - pp. 1 à 4, plate 1 (Louvre sketch)
(in French) David O Brien Antoine Jean Gros, peintre de Napoléon Gallimard 2006 - ISBN2-07-011786-3 - chapter 1, une formation en Italie pp.31-40
December 07, 2023
bonaparte, pont, arcole, bonaparte, pont, arcole, french, bonaparte, pont, arcole, canvas, painting, executed, 1796, french, artist, antoine, jean, gros, depicts, episode, during, battle, arcole, november, 1796, with, general, napoleon, bonaparte, leading, tro. Bonaparte at the Pont d Arcole French Bonaparte au Pont d Arcole is an oil on canvas painting executed in 1796 by the French artist Antoine Jean Gros It depicts an episode during the Battle of Arcole in November 1796 with General Napoleon Bonaparte leading his troops to storm the bridge Bonaparte at the Pont d ArcoleArtistAntoine Jean GrosYear1796MediumOil on canvasDimensions130 cm 94 cm 51 in 37 in LocationPalace of Versailles Versailles Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Related works 4 References 5 BibliographyDescription edit nbsp Bonaparte au pont d Arcole preparatory study of 1796 for the Versailles portrait Paris Musee du Louvre considered superior to the final painting 1 nbsp Version in the Hermitage Museum St PetersburgThe painting presents a three quarter length image of Bonaparte holding the flagstaff of the Armee d Italie in his left hand and his sword in his right on its blade is the inscription Bonaparte Armee d Italie He is dressed in the dark blue trousers and tunic of a general of the First French Republic with a gold embroidered red collar Beneath them he wears a white shirt and a black neckscarf He also wears a gold fringed tricolor cummerbund and a square buckled belt bearing his empty scabbard The background suggests the smoke of battle with a few houses in the distance on the left The land bordering the river is painted in dark tones with a smoking cannonball still visible History editThe painting was commissioned by Josephine who was accompanying Napoleon in his Italian Campaign Painted in Naples in 1796 Napoleon could reportedly not sit still for extended periods of time as a model for the portrait Josephine solved this by allowing Napoleon to sit in her lap and embracing him for the duration required by Gros 2 The painting passed through the collections of Napoleon himself and of Napoleon III before being sequestered after the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870 It was then reacquired by Napoleon III s wife Eugenie de Montijo in 1871 who eight years later gave it to the Louvre now inventory number RF271 It passed to the chateau de Compiegne in 1901 then finally the Palace of Versailles in 1938 inventory number MV 6314 Related works editSketch at the Musee du Louvre it was approved by Bonaparte as the basis for the final paintingOther versions at Arenenberg Switzerland canton of Thurgovie Musee Napoleon Saint Petersburg Hermitage Museum The painting is sometimes used as a cover for Beethoven s 5 Piano Concerto in Es Dur Opus 73 3 References edit D O Brien 2006 Antoine Jean gros peintre de napoleon p 32 Stuart Andrea 2003 The rose of Martinique a life of Napoleon s Josephine New York Grove Press p 212 ISBN 0802117708 Wiener Symphoniker Im Herzen der Klassik Beethoven Klavierkonzert Nr 5 Es Dur Op 73 Archived from the original on 2015 11 18 Retrieved 2015 11 17 Bibliography edit in French Jean Baptiste Delestre Gros et ses ouvrages ed Jules Labitte 1845 in French Raymond Escholier Gros ses amis et ses eleves exhibition at the Petit Palais May July 1936 ed Floury Paris 1936 pp 1 a 4 plate 1 Louvre sketch in French David O Brien Antoine Jean Gros peintre de Napoleon Gallimard 2006 ISBN 2 07 011786 3 chapter 1 une formation en Italie pp 31 40 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bonaparte at the Pont d 27Arcole amp oldid 1188498738, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
