Julie Bonaparte as Queen of Spain with her Daughters, Zénaïde and Charlotte

François Gérard executed this oil portrait in 1808, shortly after Julie Clary assumed the title of Queen of Spain following her husband Joseph Bonaparte's appointment to the throne. The work was likely painted at the Château de Mortefontaine, the family residence between 1798 and 1814. It was originally commissioned as one of five paintings intended for the Salon de famille at the Château de Saint-Cloud, a frequent residence of Napoleon.

Following its creation, the painting remained within the Bonaparte lineage, eventually passing to the sitter's daughter, Zénaïde Bonaparte, as an inheritance. The artwork stayed in private family ownership for over a century and a half. In 1972, the National Gallery of Ireland successfully acquired the piece, where it has remained in the public collection since.

The painting is held by the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin, where it has been part of the collection since 1972. The work was acquired by the gallery after remaining in the Bonaparte family until that date, having previously been inherited by Zénaïde Bonaparte. While the primary version resides in Ireland, copies of the portrait are located in the castles of Fontainebleau and Versailles.

The source material does not list specific accession numbers or a detailed chronological exhibition history for the work.

Created by François Gérard in 1808, this portrait is one of several works the artist produced for the Bonaparte family. It was specifically painted for the Salon de famille at the Château de Saint-Cloud, a primary residence of Napoleon, serving the imperial court's visual propaganda. The composition depicts Julie Clary in her brief role as Queen of Spain, a title held by her husband Joseph following his 1808 appointment.

The work reflects the broader context of Gérard's commissions to document the dynasty's rise and its specific fashion, such as the empire-style white satin gown and red velvet mantle worn by the queen. While the original has been held by the National Gallery of Ireland since 1972, copies of the portrait exist in the castles of Fontainebleau and Versailles, indicating its significance within the Napoleonic artistic program.

The portrait of Julie Bonaparte as Queen of Spain with her daughters Zénaïde and Charlotte established a precedent for royal family portraiture within the Bonaparte dynasty, influencing later depictions of European monarchs emphasizing dynastic legitimacy through domestic imagery. Its acquisition by the National Gallery of Ireland in 1972 ensured public access to a key work documenting Napoleonic-era European politics through art, while reproductions in collections such as Fontainebleau reflect its enduring scholarly and curatorial relevance. The painting's composition, featuring symbolic attire and familial arrangement, was frequently referenced in 19th-century European portraiture as a model for representing royal maternity and political authority.

François Gérard executed this oil portrait in 1808, during the First French Empire. It presents Julie Clary, the spouse of Joseph Bonaparte, together with their daughters Zénaïde and Charlotte. The work belongs to the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection and exemplifies the neoclassical portrait tradition of the period.