Who painted Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany?

Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany was painted by Guillaume Guillon-Lethière in 1806.

Where can I see Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany?

Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany is held by Palace of Versailles.

What movement is Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany?

Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany is associated with Neoclassicism.

Can I buy a print of Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany?

Museum-quality prints of Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany

Guillaume Guillon-Lethière , 1806

Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, Grand Duchess of Tuscany is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Guillaume Guillon-Lethière. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles. Guillaume Guillon‑Lethière’s 1806 oil portrait presents Elisa Bonaparte, the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, in a formal pose.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition includes specific iconographic elements such as a bijou and stairs, which frame the figure within a setting of status and refinement.

The painting depicts Marie-Anne-Elisa Bonaparte, known as Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi, in her role as Grand Duchess of Tuscany. As a formal portrait, the work centers on the subject herself, presenting her as a distinguished woman of the Napoleonic era. The composition includes specific iconographic elements such as a bijou and stairs, which frame the figure within a setting of status and refinement.

The inclusion of these details, alongside her dress, serves to visually articulate her high rank and the dignity associated with her title. The work functions as a representation of her political and social standing, commissioned during a period when she held significant power under her brother Napoleon's rule.

Technique & Style

Guillaume Guillon-Lethière executed this 1806 portrait using oil paint on a canvas support. The work is a large-scale formal painting, measuring 217 cm in height and 141 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition depicts the subject, Marie-Anne-Elisa Bonaparte, standing within an architectural setting that includes stairs.

She is portrayed wearing a dress and adorned with jewelry, consistent with her status as Grand Duchess of Tuscany. The handling of the medium serves to render the textures of her attire and accessories within a traditional portraiture format.

History & Provenance

Guillaume Guillon-Lethière created the oil-on-canvas portrait of Elisa Bonaparte-Bacciocchi in 1806. The work was commissioned to depict the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, capturing her status within the Napoleonic era. Historical records indicate that the painting was originally owned by Napoleon Bonaparte.

It is currently held in the collection of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it remains part of the national heritage of France.

The portrait is held in the collection of the Museum of the History of France, located within the Palace of Versailles in France. It is cataloged under multiple inventory numbers: MV 4710, INV 6234, and AC 2066. The work remains part of the national collections managed by the French Ministry of Culture.

No specific exhibition history or loan records for this painting are provided in the available documentation.

Overview

Guillaume Guillon‑Lethière’s 1806 oil portrait presents Elisa Bonaparte, the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, in a formal pose. The canvas, now part of the Palace of Versailles collection, captures the duchess standing on a stone stair, framed by a dark red curtain and a modest globe on a shelf, emphasizing her status and the period’s diplomatic symbolism.