COMPARISONNapoleon at St Bernard and Napoleon on His Imperial Throne
... I am referring to the Napoleonic Age and Napoleon’s rise to power. Napoleon had an influential effect on people. Two artists whom seemed to like Napoleon, also painted one or more paintings of the emperor. The two paintings I have chosen to compare are Napoleon at St. Bernard (1800) by Jacques-Louis David and Napoleon on His Imperial Throne (1806) by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. ... I think this is due to the political and personal influence Napoleon had on these artists. In the painting Napoleon at St. Bernard, Napoleon, dominating the canvas, sits king-like on a horse reared up, and points upwards toward heaven. ... This painting is a powerful image of Napoleon as crusading hero. ... In the painting, Napoleon on His Imperial Throne, Napoleon on his coronation day. Ingres placed Napoleon in a full frontal sitting posture on his throne against a neutral background and creates a symmetrical composition with the two staffs that Napoleon holds.