The Coronation of Napolean

Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of the Empress Josephine in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris on 2 December 1804 or as it’s known today as The Coronation of Napoleon was painted by Jacques-Louis David in 1807. It stands at an impressive 20 feet tall by 33 feet wide and is currently on display in the main gallery of the Louvre museum in Paris. The painting was a meticulous recreation of Napoleon’s Coronation at Notre-Dame. What follows is an examination how Napoleon used his power to influence the creation of art by exploring the history and making of Jacques-Louis David’s painting.

It’s important to understand the background of Napoleon Bonaparte and his rise to power over France. The Corsican-born Napoleon was one of the greatest military strategists in history. With an extensive background of training in military strategy, he worked his way up through the ranks of the French Revolutionary Army during the 1790’s, quickly gaining the respect and loyalty from the people of France. Following a coup d’etat that Napoleon initiated, he drafted a new constitution that turned France into what was essentially an oligarchical government. It should be noted that during this time the people of France loved him for his military successes and push towards religious tolerance. In this new constitution, he became the First Consul, which came with unlimited power. With this new found power, he gave himself the title of Emperor in May of 1804. On December 2 of that same year, Napoleon secured his imperial legitimacy and showcased his authority over the French monarchy and Catholic Tradition during his Coronation at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. During his coronation, he decided to crown himself, as opposed to letting the Pope crown him, which was the biggest proof to the secularization of the French Revolution. The choices he made during his lifetime clearly displayed his idolization of imperialism.

Jacques-Louis David was a French Neoclassical painter born in 1748. He was an active supporter of the French Revolution and a close friend of Robespierre, best known as the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. After his release from being imprisoned during Robespierre’s fall from power, he re-aligned himself with the political regime of Napoleon. It was during this time that he played a key role in the development of the Empire Style in art, which was purposefully propagandistic and reflected the ancient Greek and Roman empires as fitting analogies to the new French Empire. Napoleon instituted a dictatorial unification on artists’ creations, decreeing that all art would be subject to control from Paris and overseen by selected artists, including David. Napoleon directly influenced the subject matter of the paintings, as contemporary heroes replaced those of ancient history. The Empire Style was intended to idealize the French Empire.

The Coronation of Napoleon exhibits many Neoclassical characteristics, such as its clean, dense, and almost sculptural look. The painting itself took David three years to complete, demonstrating the magnitude and scale of his creation.