The Napoleon Gallery: or, Illustrations of the life and times of the emperor of FranceRéveil, Etienne Achille
History
The Napoleon Gallery: or, Illustrations of the life and times of the emperor of France
Réveil, Etienne Achille
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Portraits, caricatures, etc.
On the left of the picture, the President is seated to receive the
deputation, surrounded by his secretaries. The Duke of Dantzic appears
by his gesture to direct the proceedings. On the same side we observe
the Chancellor of the Legion of Honor, and two other senators. On the
right some other members of the Senate seem to congratulate one another
on participating in such an honorable event. These are portraits. The
sumptuous vestments and the hats ornamented with plumes, which the
artist has introduced with much ingenuity, contribute to render the
foreground of the picture effective.
[Illustration: PRESENTATION OF AUSTRIAN ENSIGNS TO THE FRENCH SENATE.]
THE 76TH REGIMENT RECOVERING ITS COLORS.
A French regiment, the 76th of the line, had lost its colors in the
Grisons; it knew that Europe had not forgotten its misfortune, which was
not occasioned, however, by want of courage. After the taking of forts
Charnitz and Neustark on the 9th of November, 1805, this regiment
entered Inspruck; an officer of the guard recognized in the arsenal the
long lost colors and announced it to his comrades. The soldiers crowded
forward, when their chief, Marshal Ney, standing in the midst, exhibited
these flags the subject of so many regrets. “I return them to you,” said
he, “confident that you will never lose them again.” On the right of the
engraving, a young soldier, raised upon the arms of his comrades, is
seen tracing these words upon the wall: “_Le 76e retrouve ses drapeaux
dans l’arsenal d’Inspruck, 1805_.”
This picture formed part of the exhibition of 1808, when the committee
deemed it worthy of honorable mention. In painting it, the artist, M.
Meynier, had a great difficulty to overcome, that of so many men clad in
uniforms of the same color; this, however, he has overcome with great
success.
By order of the Bourbons, the head of the General has been changed; they
were not willing that aught of Ney should be seen, to remind his judges
and executioners of the part they acted in his political murder.
[Illustration: THE 76th REGIMENT RECOVERING ITS COLORS.]
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ.
It is said that Napoleon, after having ascertained the exact position of
his army, on the night previous to the battle of Austerlitz, fell asleep
in the midst of his general officers. This was about midnight, when he
snatched an hour from his important duties to restore the energies of
his wearied frame. Ingratitude and treason were alone able to conquer
the will and the power that were to astonish future ages, and to be
felt, if not acknowledged, to all time.
[Illustration: THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ.]
THE BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ.
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