(NAPOLEONIC WATERCOLORS.) Group of 55 nineteenth century watercolors designed to illustrate the life and deeds of Napoleon Bonaparte. 55 captioned watercolor drawings on paper mounted to larger album sheets, several with partial "Canson Freres" watermark. 11 1/2x6 inches the largest; 2 1/2x2 inches the smallest; album mounts with short tears, edge chipping and light staining, the drawings themselves clean, large standing soldier with creasing through top image and small loss. Exhibited College of Staten Island: "The French Revolution and Napoleon: A Bicentennial Celebration" March 1989. France, later half of the 19th century
The present collection of watercolors stemmed from a proliferation of mid-nineteenth century artwork produced to celebrate the legend of Napoleon as the hero of the French Revolution. The images range from family portraits, the Emperor as a fearless leader, scenes of battles won and lost, and imperial portraits of significant commanders of his Grande Armée. Presumably once compiled as an album, the drawings together have a journalistic feel. The skill of each drawing varies and the group appears to have been done by more than one hand, often using published engravings or other known works as models.
Several notable drawings include: Bust portraits of Josephine and Napoleon, Portrait of Marie Louise with her son the King of Rome, Napoleon receiving the Queen of Prussia at Tilsit July 7, 1807, Napoleon's entrance into Vienna, Battle of Algeciras, Napoleon at Charleroi, General Mack's surrender at Ulm, Battle of Moscow, various scenes of imperial guards, full-length portraits of General Kleber and other Marshals. One final scene depicts Napoleon boarding the British ship "Bellerophon" following his ultimate surrender.
