Napoleon I, Emperor of France
workshop of Antonio Canova (Possagno 1757 - Venice 1822)
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
circa 1820 - circa 1830
Materials
Marble
Measurements
825 x 488 x 380 mm
Place of origin
Rome
Order this imageCollection
Osterley Park and House, London
NT 772417
Summary
White marble sculpture, Napoleon I, Emperor of France (1769–1821), after an original by Antonio Canova (1757 - 1822). Bust-length portrait facing right. Iron tang in bottom of bust for fixing to separate pedestal.
Full description
It is likely that this sculpture is one of the many versions of Canova's portrait of Napoleon to have been made by the sculptor's workshop after his death. It is the most idealising of Canova's portraits of Napoleon, and was used as the model for Napoleon's portrait in his colossal statue of Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker at Apsley House. The prime version of the bust, now at Chatsworth, may date from around 1803, and is said to have been kept by the sculptor in his bedroom until his death. Numerous other versions of the bust made by Canova's studio exist in marble or bronze, including one in Palazzo Pitti, Florence. However, the busts were also reproduced more widely; the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, Elisa Baciocchi Bonaparte, set up a factory in Carrara for the semi-industrial production of busts of the Emperor. It is one of the few objects to survive in the collection at Osterley from the interesting collection of Napoleonic memorabilia, apparently given to Clementina Villiers by her godfather, the Duke of Wellington. (Jeremy Warren, 2017)
Provenance
Given by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) to Sarah Sophia, 5th Countess of Jersey or her daughter (and the Duke's god-daughter), Lady Clementina Villiers (1824-58). First recorded in the 1871 inventory of Osterley in the Long Gallery, along with other Napoleonic artefacts given by the Duke of Wellington. By descent to George Francis Child-Villiers, 9th Earl of Jersey (1910 – 1998); given to the National Trust in 1981.
Credit line
National Trust Collections (Osterley Park, The Jersey Collection)
Makers and roles
workshop of Antonio Canova (Possagno 1757 - Venice 1822), sculptor