|
||
|
|
|
|
This aquatint, engraved by Jean-Pierre-Marie Jazet and based on a painting by Horace Vernet, presents a dramatic and symbolic portrayal of Napoleon, likened to Christ's resurrection. Titled with Napoleon's poignant wish from his last will, "It is my wish that my ashes may repose on the banks of the Seine, in the midst of the French people, whom I have loved so well," this work captures a significant moment in French history and Napoleonic iconography.
In 1840, a pivotal year marked by the repatriation of Napoleon's remains to France, Horace Vernet painted this evocative scene, which Jean-Pierre-Marie Jazet, an accomplished engraver, subsequently immortalized in aquatint. The image depicts Napoleon, characterized in a Christ-like manner, rising from his tomb bathed in a celestial glow, symbolically shedding the shroud of death. This portrayal not only reflects the reverence and mythic status Napoleon held in French society but also underscores the era's artistic and cultural milieu, deeply intertwined with historical events and figures.
Reflecting the artistic trends of the period, the work stands as a testament to the fusion of art and history, capturing the posthumous glorification of Napoleon. Its inclusion of folk art elements, like the depiction of a grognard reminiscent of a Roman soldier at Jesus's tomb, not only deepens the Christological parallel but also highlights the intersection of high art and popular culture in commemorating historical figures. This aquatint serves as an important artifact for understanding the complex layers of Napoleonic legend and its enduring impact on French identity and collective memory.
![(Arizona Native American Photograph) [Original CDV of a Pima or Apache Child]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/93107.jpg)
![(Virginia - American Religious History) [Four Early American Methodist and Anabaptist Color Aquatint Engravings of the Second Great Awakening] Camp Meeting of the Methodists in N. America [with:] American Methodists Proceeding to their Camp Meeting [with:] Camp Meeting of the Methodists in N. America [with, on verso:] Anabaptist Ceremony in N. America](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/89500.jpg)
![(Allegories of Continents) Africa. America [with:] Europa. Asia.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/95743.jpg)
![Mandan Chef. Chef Mandan [Mandan Chief Four Bears, a.k.a. Mató-Tópe]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/81194.jpg)