Portrait of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French
Medium
enamel on copper, gilt metal and plush mount in a turned wood frame
Dimensions
unframed: 6.6 × 5 cm · framed: 13.5 × 11.5 cm
Classification
Portrait Miniature
Department
Modern European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mabel Porozynski in honor and remembrance of Eugene Porozynski
Accession Number
2000.106
Tags
About this artwork
Unlike fragile portrait miniatures painted in watercolor on vellum or ivory, which are prone to cracking, fading, and flaking, enamels are resilient, impervious to the effects of light, and retain their striking original colors over time. Partly for this reason enamel was considered ideal for reproducing famous paintings and treasured portraits in a reduced and luminous form. The complicated and labor-intensive process of enameling required the artist to fire numerous layers of colored metal oxi...