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Lot Essay
The present watch depicts enamel iminiatures on the front inspired by Jacques-Louis David's "The Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon and the Coronation of the Empress Joséphine on December 2, 1804" and on the back possibly inspired by Piotr Michalowski's "Napoleon on Horseback".
Jacques-Louis David was known for using the style of Neoclassicism, which rose in the second half of the eighteenth century in Europe from an influence of classical antiquity on artistic styles. In 1804 David was appointed "First Painter to the Emperor" by Napoleon, and he and his pupils were tasked to paint the Emperor as history unfolded. By 1816, David was exiled to Belgium, and died there in 1825.
Napoleon Bonaparte was appointed a general of the French army in 1796. In November of 1799, he became the first consul of France through a coup d'état, and was proclaimed Emperor in May 1804. The coronation was held on December 2nd, 1804 in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Like Charlemagne, he was consecrated Emporer by a pope; moreover, he crowned himself and faced the congregation while doing so, to mark his independence from the Church.
Napoleon commissioned Jacques Louis David to paint on a huge canvas his Coronation, and had the painter present during the ceremony to be able to portray the splendor of the event realistically. Originally, David's first sketches depcited this act, but in the final result painted Napoleon crowning the Empress, an act described by Napoleon as similar to that of a French knight. David also reconstructed the scene in his studio with models and wax figurines, but made some adjustments to the figures, such as making Joséphine look younger, and including Letizia Bonaparte, known as Madame Mère, in the painting, although she had not attended the ceremony out of disapproval.
Piotr Michalowski was a Polish painter during the Romanic period, and was known for his portraits and studies of horses. He was considered the greatest painter of the Romanic era in Poland. Also known for his paintings of Napoleonic battle scenes, his paintings had a romanic feel, featuring the silhouettes of galloping horses.
These two enamels, inspired by historical events that were captured by painters of their era, make the present watch an interesting work of art that portrays one of the most important figures in European history.
Jacques-Louis David was known for using the style of Neoclassicism, which rose in the second half of the eighteenth century in Europe from an influence of classical antiquity on artistic styles. In 1804 David was appointed "First Painter to the Emperor" by Napoleon, and he and his pupils were tasked to paint the Emperor as history unfolded. By 1816, David was exiled to Belgium, and died there in 1825.
Napoleon Bonaparte was appointed a general of the French army in 1796. In November of 1799, he became the first consul of France through a coup d'état, and was proclaimed Emperor in May 1804. The coronation was held on December 2nd, 1804 in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Like Charlemagne, he was consecrated Emporer by a pope; moreover, he crowned himself and faced the congregation while doing so, to mark his independence from the Church.
Napoleon commissioned Jacques Louis David to paint on a huge canvas his Coronation, and had the painter present during the ceremony to be able to portray the splendor of the event realistically. Originally, David's first sketches depcited this act, but in the final result painted Napoleon crowning the Empress, an act described by Napoleon as similar to that of a French knight. David also reconstructed the scene in his studio with models and wax figurines, but made some adjustments to the figures, such as making Joséphine look younger, and including Letizia Bonaparte, known as Madame Mère, in the painting, although she had not attended the ceremony out of disapproval.
Piotr Michalowski was a Polish painter during the Romanic period, and was known for his portraits and studies of horses. He was considered the greatest painter of the Romanic era in Poland. Also known for his paintings of Napoleonic battle scenes, his paintings had a romanic feel, featuring the silhouettes of galloping horses.
These two enamels, inspired by historical events that were captured by painters of their era, make the present watch an interesting work of art that portrays one of the most important figures in European history.