The Meeting of Napoleon I and Tsar Alexander I at Tilsit
1808
oil
From the collection of Palace of Versailles
Early 19th Century alexander i of russia boat cloud grand duke konstantin pavlovich of russia luis alejandro berthier
1808
oil
From the collection of Palace of Versailles
This painting shows Napoleon I and Tsar Alexander I meeting on a raft in the middle of a river. The raft is decorated with white curtains and a small building. Napoleon stands at the entrance of the building, while Alexander stands in front of him. Many people are gathered around the raft, some in boats and others on the riverbank. The sky is cloudy and gray. A notable detail in the painting is the way the artist has depicted the meeting between the two leaders. Napoleon and Alexander are shown standing face-to-face, with Napoleon's hand extended in a gesture of friendship. This moment is significant because it marks a turning point in the relationship between France and Russia. If you're interested in learning more about this painting, you might want to look up the artist Adolphe Roehn.
