Joséphine, Empress of the French

Guillaume Guillon-Lethière painted this portrait of Joséphine de Beauharnais in 1807. The work was commissioned by Napoleon, who owned the painting. It is now held in the collection of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it is identified by inventory numbers MV 4700, INV 6233, and AC 2070.

The portrait of Joséphine, Empress of the French, by Guillaume Guillon-Lethière is held at the Palace of Versailles, specifically within the Museum of the History of France. The work is cataloged under the inventory numbers MV 4700, INV 6233, and AC 2070 in the collections of the National Museums of the Castles of Versailles and Trianon. This oil on canvas painting, created in 1807, remains part of the French national heritage managed by the Ministry of Culture. No specific exhibition history or temporary loan records are provided in the available documentation.

Guillaume Guillon‑Lethière’s 1807 oil portrait presents Joséphine de Beauharnais as Empress of the French. The work, now displayed in the Palace of Versailles, shows the former consort in a regal setting, surrounded by symbols of authority and luxury that underscore her status within the Napoleonic empire.

The early 1800s saw a revival of neoclassical portraiture that emphasized clarity, order, and the moral authority of the sitter. Lethière’s work aligns with this trend, using classical compositional elements, such as the throne and globe, to situate Joséphine within a lineage of sovereigns, while the detailed costume reflects contemporary fashion of the First Empire.