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Marble Bust of Napoleon from the Workshop of Antoine-Denis Chaudet
- Few images embody the grandeur of the Napoleonic Empire quite like this monumental marble bust
- This bust of Napoleon Bonaparte was created in the workshop of Antoine-Denis Chaudet
- Chaudet’s portrait presents Napoleon with the idealized dignity of a sovereign
- While over a thousand official replicas were produced during Napoleon’s reign, most were destroyed following the Bourbon Restoration
- Get complete item description here
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From the Workshop of Antoine-Denis Chaudet
1763–1810 | French
Marble
Few images embody the grandeur of the Napoleonic Empire quite like this monumental marble bust of Napoleon Bonaparte. Created in the workshop of Antoine-Denis Chaudet, the celebrated sculptor responsible for Napoleon’s official portrait bust, this imposing likeness derives from the model Chaudet created in 1799. Its survival is particularly remarkable, as while over a thousand official replicas were. . .
From the Workshop of Antoine-Denis Chaudet
1763–1810 | French
Marble
Few images embody the grandeur of the Napoleonic Empire quite like this monumental marble bust of Napoleon Bonaparte. Created in the workshop of Antoine-Denis Chaudet, the celebrated sculptor responsible for Napoleon’s official portrait bust, this imposing likeness derives from the model Chaudet created in 1799. Its survival is particularly remarkable, as while over a thousand official replicas were produced during Napoleon’s reign, most were destroyed following the Bourbon Restoration in 1814.
Chaudet’s portrait presents Napoleon with the idealized dignity of a sovereign. His gaze is commanding and composed, while the flowing hair and bare shoulders recall the visual language of classical antiquity. Carved in luminous marble, the bust transforms the living ruler into an enduring symbol of imperial authority, precisely the image Napoleon sought to project as he consolidated his power.
Chaudet’s original model became Napoleon’s favored official portrait after the marble version was completed in 1804, shortly after his proclamation as Emperor of the French. Its popularity was extraordinary. The image was reproduced in marble and Sèvres biscuit porcelain and became one of the most recognizable representations of Napoleon throughout the Empire. Between 1807 and 1809, Carrara workshops in Italy produced at least 1,200 marble replicas for public buildings and official spaces across France. Following the Bourbon Restoration, many of these imperial portraits were destroyed as symbols of the fallen regime. Surviving examples are therefore rare reminders of the immense visual program created to celebrate Napoleon’s rule.
The present bust likely derives from this official Carrara production, connecting it directly to one of the most ambitious portrait campaigns of the Napoleonic era. Large, commanding and deeply evocative of the Empire, it stands as a remarkable surviving testament to the power of art to construct—and preserve—the image of a ruler.
Early 19th century
18 1/2" high x 10 1/2" wide x 10 3/4" deep
Provenance:
Private Collection, South of France
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
| Period: | 1816-1918 |
| Origin: | France |
| Type: | Sculpture |
| Style: | Neoclassicism |
| Depth: | 10.75 in. (27.31 cm) |
| Width: | 10.5 in. (26.67 cm) |
| Height: | 19.5 in. (49.53 cm) |
Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
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