Artwork
The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries
The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Jacques-Louis David. It dates from 1812 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: LVD.CI.DAVID OPVS / 1812; center right on scroll: CODE
About this work
Jacques-Louis David signed and dated the canvas 1812, though the Emperor never sat for it.
The clock reads 4:13 a.m. as Napoleon stands among candle stubs and scattered papers in the Tuileries. Jacques-Louis David signed and dated the canvas 1812, though the Emperor never sat for it. Commissioned by Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton, it stresses Napoleon's civil authority: the scroll reads 'Code,' for the Napoleonic Code, while his Imperial Guard uniform and resting sword keep the soldier in view.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Emperor Napoleon standing in his study at the Tuileries Palace, wearing his military uniform adorned with the Legion of Honour and the Order of the Iron Crown, symbols of his military and imperial authority. His right hand is placed inside his waistcoat, a gesture linked to leadership and composure. On the desk lies a copy of the Civil Code, underscoring his role as a lawgiver.
The gilded clock and candle suggest early morning or late-night work, symbolizing his dedication to state affairs. The sword and documents on the secretary desk further emphasize his combined military and administrative duties. Together, these iconographic elements present Napoleon as a tireless, multifaceted ruler blending martial strength with civic governance.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a medium typical of Jacques-Louis David's grand portraiture. The canvas measures 203.9 by 125.1 cm, a substantial vertical format well suited to the full-length depiction of the emperor. No information regarding the artist's handling, the painting's physical condition, or detailed formal qualities is provided in the sources; however, the choice of oil on canvas and the large scale are fundamental to the work's authoritative presence.
History & Provenance
Commissioned in 1812 by Alexander, Marquis of Douglas (later the 10th Duke of Hamilton), the portrait was executed that same year. David's own lists record it as painted for England. The painting descended through the Hamilton family: to the 11th duke, then to the 12th duke, who sold it at auction in 1882.
It was purchased by F. Davis, likely for the 5th Earl of Rosebery, and later inherited by the 6th Earl. In 1951 the Earl sold it to Wildenstein & Co., who sold it in 1954 to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. The Kress Foundation donated the work to the National Gallery of Art in 1961.
The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries is held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., to which it was gifted in 1961 by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. The Kress Foundation had purchased the painting from Wildenstein & Co. in 1954. Previously, it was owned by the 5th and 6th earls of Rosebery, and before that by the dukes of Hamilton, from whose collection it was sold in 1882.
The painting's accession number at the National Gallery and its exhibition history are not specified in the sources consulted.
Overview
Jacques-Louis David's 1812 oil on canvas, "The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries," depicts Napoleon I in his private chambers. The painting captures the French Emperor in his military uniform, surrounded by the accoutrements of his office. Although rendered with meticulous detail, historical accounts suggest that Napoleon himself did not sit for this portrait. The work offers a carefully constructed image of the ruler, emphasizing his dedication and authority.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques-Louis David was born in Paris on 30 August 1748 into a bourgeois family; his father died in a duel when the boy was nine, and a maternal uncle guided his education.
Studied in the Mythology in Art course 
Studied in the Portraiture Across Time course