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.
M. Jazet has here attempted to produce a picture which shall revive all
the recollections of that remarkable period, when the extraordinary
career of Napoleon spread terror wherever his name and deeds were heard
of. He has represented an old soldier fatigued and careworn, and has
made nature itself sympathize with his feelings. The sun is setting in
the west, his crimson rays dimmed by intervening clouds, while the scene
around is desolate and barren.
The picture was placed in the gallery of the Palais Royal, and those who
visit it readily enter into its spirit, seeing there depicted the end of
a grand epoch in the history of France.
[Illustration: A SOLDIER AT WATERLOO.]
A FIELD HOSPITAL.
The devotion shown to the memory of Napoleon, by the spirited painter of
the original picture from which this is copied, has been profitable to
that talented artist. Few of his contemporaries have succeeded better
than M. Bellangé, in depicting subjects which illustrate the “Imperial
Epoch.”
This picture is well conceived, free and natural. It is a scene which
occurred repeatedly on the battle-field in Napoleon’s campaigns. “_Vive
l’Empereur_,” let the wound be slight or mortal; “_Vive l’Empereur!_”
was the wounded soldier’s cry, though scarcely able to see his Captain
as he passed. With such devotion as this, what had not the ‘_Grand
Homme_’ to hope for! These were not the soldiers to abandon him. Honor,
rank, riches, were not able to corrupt them. And if they had not been so
patriotic; if they had not been models of military discipline;--what
would they not have undertaken for love of their General, for him who
had led them to victory and glory. Poor fellows! humble laborers in the
vast plain of a great architect, you assisted in raising the great
monument; your task should not have been without recompense.
[Illustration: A FIELD HOSPITAL.]
ARC DE TRIOMPHE DE L’ETOILE.
This monumental arch stands in a circular area without the _barrière_ of
that name, at the end of the avenues in the _Champs Elysées_, and in
front of the Palace of the Tuileries. It is of greater size than
anything of the kind hitherto erected, being 133 feet in height,
including the cornice and attic. The fronts are 134 feet in breadth, and
the sides 67. The principal arch is 92 feet in height, and 44 in
breadth: the transverse arch 56 feet by 55½. The first stone of this
edifice, which was begun by the city of Paris to commemorate Napoleon’s
triumph over Russia, and his alliance with the Emperor Alexander at
Tilsit, was laid on the 15th of August, 1806, under the direction of
Chalgrin. From the beginning of this undertaking, the work was suspended
and renewed at intervals until its completion in 1830.
[Illustration: ARC DE TRIOMPHE DE L’ETOILE.]
DEATH-BED OF NAPOLEON.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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