Napoleon
after 1835
Medium
Watercolor and gouache, over traces of graphite, on tan wove paper
Dimensions
13.2 × 16.3 cm (5 1/4 × 6 7/16 in.)
Classification
watercolor
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
48678
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Nicolas Toussaint Charlet *Napoleon*, created after 1835, the enduring legacy of the French Emperor in a intimate watercolor and gouache over graphite on tan wove paper. just 13.2 × 16.3 cm, this delicate work from the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints Drawings department exemplifies Charlet’s mastery of small-scale portraiture, blending meticulous underdrawing with vibrant, opaque gouache layers for a luminous effect. A veteran of Napoleon’s campaigns, Charlet1792–1845) was a leading Romantic lithographer and painter who romanticized the Napoleonic era through humorous and nostalgic depictions of soldiers and their leader. Produced during France’s July Monarchy, when Bonapartist sentiment lingered despite political shifts, this piece reflects the cultural reverence for Napoleon as a heroic figure, even two decades after his death in 1821. The use of gouache—offering bold, matte finishes—contrasts with watercolor’s fluidity, allowing Charlet to evoke Napoleon’s commanding presence on a modest support like tan wove paper, popular for affordable sketches. This technique underscores the artwork’s accessibility, bridging fine art with popular print culture and inviting viewers to ponder the Emperor’s mythic status in 19th-century France.
About the Artist
Nicolas Toussaint Charlet · 1792–1845
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