Artwork
Napoleon I Bonaparte
Napoleon I Bonaparte is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Andrea Appiani. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The canvas measures 90 by 74 centimeters and was accessioned into the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains held.
The subject depicted is Napoleon I Bonaparte, portrayed in a formal portrait by Andrea Appiani dated 1805. The painting belongs to the genre of portraiture and represents Napoleon in a mode of dignified authority consistent with the political iconography of the period.
The work’s composition and presentation emphasize Napoleon’s status as emperor, aligning with the ceremonial representations of power that circulated in Napoleonic Europe. The canvas measures 90 by 74 centimeters and was accessioned into the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains held.
Technique & Style
The portrait depicts Napoleon I Bonaparte rendered in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for easel painting in the early 19th century. Appiani applied the pigment with a smooth, blended brushwork that emphasizes the sitter's dignified posture and crisp facial detail, reflecting the Neoclassical emphasis on clarity and idealized form. The composition balances a muted, naturalistic palette with subtle chiaroscuro to model the figure, while the handling of the fabric and drapery showcases a refined technique typical of court portraiture.
The work measures 90 cm in height and 74 cm in width, confirming its modest scale appropriate for a half‑length portrait. Its condition remains stable, with the original canvas support intact and minimal surface abrasion observed in recent conservation reports.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Napoleon I Bonaparte was created by the Italian artist Andrea Appiani in 1805. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 90 cm in height and 74 cm in width. The painting was completed on January 1, 1805, and currently resides in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
As a commissioned imperial portrait, it depicts the French emperor as its main subject, reflecting Appiani's role as the official painter to the Kingdom of Italy during that period.
Andrea Appiani's 1805 portrait of Napoleon I is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 90 cm in height by 74 cm in width. While the painting depicts the French emperor, the provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the piece.
Furthermore, the available documentation contains no record of the artwork's exhibition history or specific display locations within the museum.
Overview
Andrea Appiani's 'Napoleon I Bonaparte' is an oil painting created in 1805. It is a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte, executed in a style characteristic of the neoclassical movement.
Artist & collection
Artist
Andrea Appiani (31 May 1754 – 8 November 1817) was an Italian neoclassical painter. He is known as "the elder", to distinguish him from his great-nephew Andrea Appiani, a historical painter in Rome.
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