Art as a Historical Source Danielle Fusco

danielle.fusco@gmail.com

Some considerations:

Is the view of Napoleon favorable or unfavorable? How can we tell

(Color, Perspective, Symbols, body language, setting, clothing, relationship to other people in the painting)

Was the work commissioned, or was it painted independently? Why is this important?

What do portraits tell us? What don’t portraits tell us? What is the message of the portrait? How

can we tell?

Art as a Historical SourceConsiderations for this exercise:

We are going to look at images of Napoleon in chronological order. Predict how the perspective on NB will change over time.

How do these paintings show Napoleon as a powerful or weak man?

What do these paintings say about NB’s legacy?

What is your favorite painting, and why? Let’s relate these paintings to different

historical perspectives. Which painting would Sun Tzu like best? How about Thomas Jefferson? Why?

Napoleon in 1792

Henri FelixPhilippoteaux

Bonaparte asFirst Consul

Jean-Auguste-Dominique

Ingres (1804)

Napoleon Crossing the Alps

Jacques-Louis David (1800-1801)

Think about the quote we recently

analyzed: “I reign only

through the fear that I inspire”

NapoleonCrossingThe Alps

Paul Delaroche(1850)

These paintings are a comparative look at the same event. Which would Napoleon prefer? Which is likely more accurate? Which is more powerful? What emotions does each draw from you? How?

Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of the Empress Josephine in the

Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris on 2 Dec 1804Jacque-Louis David (1806-1807)

Views of Napoleon as Emperor

Napoleon as Emperor de Roucy Trioson

Napoleon, Emperor of France Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

Views of Napoleon as Emperor, Pt. II

Napoleon in Scaring Costume as King of Italy (Master of Europe)

Andrew Appiani the Elder In Scaring Costume

Baron Francois Gerard

The Battle for Moscow (The Battle of Borodino)Jacque-Louis David (1812)