{"product_id":"napoleon-bonaparte-as-first-consul-by-sophie-janinet","title":"Napoleon Bonaparte as First Consul by Sophie Janinet","description":"Sophie Janinet\u003cbr\u003e 1779–1819 | French \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Bust of Napoleon Bonaparte as First Consul \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Inscribed “Le General Bonaparte [First] Consul”\u003cbr\u003e Oil on glass \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e An exceptionally rare portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte as First Consul, this extraordinary work by Sophie Janinet captures a pivotal moment in the formation of Napoleonic iconography. Rendered in the highly complex \u003cem\u003etrompe l'oeil\u003c\/em\u003e technique to imitate patinated bronze against a faux marble ground, the composition reflects the early Empire’s fascination with classical authority and sculptural presence. Produced during the French Empire, around 1800 and at the height of Bonaparte’s ascent, the work belongs to a moment when imagery of the First Consul was carefully shaped to project strength, legitimacy and permanence. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Executed in oil on glass, the painting achieves the striking illusion of sculpted relief, with subtle tonal shifts and controlled highlights that convincingly simulate bronze. The circular format enhances the sense of monumentality, while the restrained palette underscores its neoclassical clarity. Framed in a finely carved giltwood frame decorated with egg-and-dart and acanthus ornament, the work reads at first glance as a sculpted medallion rather than a painting, demonstrating the artist’s mastery of illusionistic technique. Reverse glass painting of this sophistication required extraordinary precision, as details are painted in reverse order—making any error permanent and placing immense technical demands on the artist. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sophie Janinet was a French Neoclassical painter born into a family of artists and engravers, trained within a milieu that included exposure to figures such as Fragonard, Hubert Robert and Greuze. She exhibited at the Salon from a young age and was known for her refined ability to translate sculptural effects into works on paper and glass. This portrait reflects both her technical skill and her engagement with contemporary political imagery, aligning her practice with the broader visual culture of the Napoleonic era. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Circa 1800 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Glass: 20 1\/2\" diameter (52.1 cm)\u003cbr\u003e Frame: 28 1\/8\" diameter x 2 1\/2\" deep (71.4 x 6.4 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Collection of Sacha Guitry (Saint Petersburg, 1885–Paris, 1957)\u003cbr\u003e His sale, Ader Picard Tajan, Drouot, February 17, 1977\u003cbr\u003e Collection of Madame Delplace\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, France\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44948543766663,"sku":"32-2589","price":78500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-2589_1.png?v=1782163293","url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/products\/napoleon-bonaparte-as-first-consul-by-sophie-janinet","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}