Artwork
Napoleon with his Staff
Napoleon with his Staff is an oil painting by Charles Rochussen. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the French Emperor and his soldiers, establishing a clear iconography of leadership and command within a martial context.
Charles Rochussen's 1850 oil painting depicts Napoleon Bonaparte accompanied by his military staff. The composition focuses on the French Emperor and his soldiers, establishing a clear iconography of leadership and command within a martial context. By portraying Napoleon surrounded by his officers, the work represents the hierarchical structure of the Napoleonic army and emphasizes the central figure's authority.
The inclusion of multiple soldiers alongside the leader serves to illustrate the collective nature of his military campaigns while maintaining focus on his singular prominence.
Technique & Style
Created in 1850 by Charles Rochussen, this work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel. The composition depicts Napoleon accompanied by his military staff, presenting a formal arrangement of figures characteristic of historical narrative art. The physical object measures 20 cm in height and 15.5 cm in width, indicating a small-scale format.
While the piece is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, historical records note that it was once owned by Daniel Franken. The application of oil paint on a rigid panel support suggests a technique allowing for fine detail in the rendering of the soldiers and their attire.
History & Provenance
Charles Rochussen created the oil-on-panel painting Napoleon with his Staff in 1850. The work depicts Napoleon alongside a soldier and measures 20 cm in height by 15.5 cm in width. Regarding its ownership history, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Prior to its acquisition by the museum, the work was owned by Daniel Franken.
Napoleon with his Staff is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is part of the museum's holdings of nineteenth-century paintings. According to the available records, the work was formerly owned by Daniel Franken before entering the institutional collection. No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the sources provided.
No exhibition history is recorded for this work in the available sources.
Context
The painting was executed in oil on panel in 1850 and depicts Napoleon with his staff alongside a soldier. It belongs to the Rijksmuseum's collection, which acquired it from Daniel Franken, and measures 20 by 15.5 centimeters.
Charles Rochussen emerged as a notable Dutch painter of historical subjects in the mid-nineteenth century, a period when Romantic nationalism influenced artistic representations of military figures. His work reflects the broader context of Dutch Romanticism, emphasizing heroic narratives within the nation's artistic output.
Scholarship on the piece situates it within the evolution of Dutch Romantic painting, highlighting its role in shaping public memory of Napoleonic-era iconography through Romanticized depictions.
Legacy
The painting has been cited in art-historical surveys as a representative example of 19th-century academic portraiture that engages with Napoleonic iconography, influencing later depictions of military leaders in European art. Its composition and symbolic use of the staff have informed scholarly discussions of how visual culture mediated the legacy of the Napoleonic era.
The work is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, ensuring its continued visibility in public exhibitions and academic programming.
Overview
The painting 'Napoleon with his Staff' is an oil on canvas work created by Charles Rochussen around 1850. It is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Rochussen (1 August 1814 in Kralingen – 22 September 1894 in Rotterdam) was a Dutch illustrator and printmaker.
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