Josephine de Beauharnais married Napoleon in 1796. At her residence at Malmaison she surrounded herself with the most brilliant society of France. The marriage was dissolved in 1809 but she retained the title of Empress and continued to live at Malmaison until her death.
This drawing could possibly depict a conduit in the parkland of Malmaison where she kept a flock of merino sheep for her amusement. The lion may well be a souvenir of Napoleon's Egyptian campaign.
Josephine's drawing master was the artist Jean Baptiste Isabey (1767-1855). An intimate friend of the Empreror and Empress, he became their official painter in 1805 with sole charge of producing their official likenesses and organising parties at their various residences. There is a similar drawing in the private collection of Prince Rainier of Monaco.