Napoleon Crossing the Alps
Wishing to depict Napoleon as a great military leader, Charles IV of Spain commissioned Jacques-Louis David to
create a portrait of the French leader. The result? “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” (also known as “Bonaparte at
the St Bernard Pass”).
David worked on the original portrait—there were ultimately five versions—between October 1800 and January
1801. The work depicts the self-confidence of a man who had staged a coup d’état against the French
revolutionary government in 1799. Those actions led to Napoleon’s new job, as First Consul of France.
The next year—in May of 1800—Napoleon and his troops crossed the Alps where they defeated Austria at the
very costly Battle of Marengo. David’s work commemorates that achievement.
Creating the painting, David could not get Napoleon to cooperate. Busy with other matters, the First Counsel
reportedly said (in English translation):
Nobody knows if the portraits of the great men resemble them, it is enough that their genius lives
there.
Using an earlier portrait of Napoleon, together with the uniform which Bonaparte wore at Marengo, David
painted the portrait without its subject in front of him. The artist used one of his own sons—who stood on a
ladder, wearing Napoleon’s clothes—to get the “action” just right.
It was Napoleon, however, who suggested that David’s work be an equestrian portrait. He told David to make it
“calme sur un cheval fougueux” (calm on a fiery horse).
The painting doesn’t really tell the story of how Napoleon crossed the Alps, though. He followed his troops,
instead of leading them. And he didn’t ride his horse—Styrie was the one he used at Marengo—on the Great St.
Bernard’s Pass (the Western Alps’ most-ancient pass). Instead he rode on the back of a mule.
Comparing Napoleon to other great generals who crossed the Alps, David reflects Napoleon’s name—carved on
a rock, left of his horse’s hind legs—where we also see the names of Hannibal and Charlemagne. The artist
seems to convey that an invincible Napoleon could conquer just about anything.
Not only was Bonaparte pleased with David’s work, he ordered three more versions. The first, commissioned by
Charles IV, was displayed in Madrid’s Royal Palace. Napoleon’s were hung in Paris and Milan. David kept a fifth
version in his studio. The image, used here, depicts the third version (which David painted in 1802). It has been
at the Palace of Versailles since 1837.
As a result of his work, Jacques-Louis was given a special honor in 1801: Premier Peintre (First Painter) to
Napoleon. It was David who created the famous work “The Coronation of Napoleon,” when France’s new
emperor crowned himself (since no one else was worthy of placing the symbol of royalty on his head).
Meanwhile ... Napoleon had a major land asset in America which he wanted to sell (to help him finance his
European military campaigns). And ... America had a President who wanted to buy at least part of that asset
(the city of New Orleans).
At the end of the negotiations, Thomas Jefferson’s emissaries bought the entire asset—not just the city on the
Mississippi River—which added a huge amount of territory to the United States. Americans refer to that land
asset as “The Louisiana Purchase” which, at the time it was acquired, doubled the size of America.
The image, at the top of this page, reflects a close-up detail of David’s equestrian portrait of Napoleon. One
hopes the artist wouldn’t mind the addition of those few overlying words!
Credits:
Painting by Jacques Louis David, 1802, currently maintained at the Palace of Versailles. Public Domain.
See Alignments to State and Common Core standards for this story online at:
https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/AcademicAlignment/Napoleon-Crossing-the-Alps
See Learning Tasks for this story online at:
https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/AcademicActivities/Napoleon-Crossing-the-Alps
Media Stream
Bonaparte at the St Bernard Pass
Jacques-Louis David's painting of "Napoleon Crossing the Alps," also known as
"Bonaparte at the St Bernard Pass," online via Wikimedia Commons. Public
Domain.
View this asset at:
https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Bonaparte-at-the-St-Bernard-Pass
Great Saint Bernard Pass
Photo by Hans Hillewaert is available for use via Creative Commons License CC BYSA 4.0
View this asset at:
https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Great-Saint-Bernard-Pass