Napoleonic paintings

In this free course, Napoleonic paintings, we will examine a range of Napoleonic imagery by David, Gros and a number of other artists, beginning with comparatively simple single-figure portraits and moving on to elaborate narrative compositions, such as Jaffa and Eylau. In so doing, we will have three main aims: to develop your skills of visual analysis; to examine the relationship between art and politics; and to introduce you to some of the complex issues involved in interpreting works of art.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Paintings at the Louvre
• 1 Paintings at the Louvre
• 1.1 The state as patron
• 2 The portrait of Napoleon
• 2 The portrait of Napoleon
• 2.1 The general
• 2.2 Hero or great man?
• 2.3 The military leader
• 2.4 The First Consul
• 2.5 The emperor
• 2.6 The portrayal of traditional symbols of power
• 2.7 Legitimating the regime
• 3 Gros and the Napoleonic propaganda machine
• 3 Gros and the Napoleonic propaganda machine
• 3.1 The limits of propaganda
• 3.1.1 Bonaparte Visiting the Plague-Stricken of Jaffa
• 3.2 The propaganda function of Jaffa
• 3.3 The use of religious imagery
• 3.4 Editing out warfare
• 3.5 Napoleon Visiting the Field of the Battle of Eylau
• 3.5.1 Denon's account of Eylau
• 3.6 Supporting Napoleon's bulletins
• 4 The Decennial Competition of 1810
• 4 The Decennial Competition of 1810
• 4.1 Inspiring loyalty to the leader
• 4.2 Purpose of the Decennial Competition
• 5 Conclusion
• 5 Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgements