The imperial Tomb, where Napoleon forever rests. Made of purple Shoksha quartzite mined in Russian Karelia, it was designed by the Franco Italian architect Louis Visconti. In all, it is fair to say the emperor would have loved the crypt and tomb. He rests - as he wanted - “on the banks of the seine… surrounded by the French people he loved so dearly”.
The imperial Eagle at the entrance to the crypt of the Invalides.
The imperial bedchamber at Malmaison.
Josephine, too, was a great reader. She amassed a library of 13,000 volumes. Loving novels above all else, she subscribed to a great many journals - on geography, zoology, gardening and travel. Contrary to her husband, she disliked history.
“The Emperor Napoleon in his Study at the Tuileries.” By Jacque Louis David. Now residing at the National Gallery of Art. He is wearing the uniform of a Colonel of the Grenadiers of the Guard. Notice the time on the clock (4:13AM), the Code, and the copy of Plutarch’s Lives, one of his favorites.
One of thousands of dedications to the most literary monarch Europe has ever seen.
« My Cousin, it is necessary to have the conscription law drafted…. I think 5,000 men for the active army is enough…. » To Eugene, Viceroy of Italy. One of 6 letters to him that day. One of 40,000+ surviving letters. Napoleon wrote more letters than Donald Trump tweets.
November 10th, 1815: Napoleon walks with Mme Jane Balcombe on St. Helena. They come upon a group of slaves carrying heavy boxes. Miss Balcombe aggressively tells them to get out of the way. “Respect the Burden, Madame”, Napoleon answers.
Barbier, former librarian to the emperor, was quick to change allegiances. Most likely made at the Restoration, this crossing of the name of Napoleon was probably intended to please France’s restored king, Louis XVIII. Loyalty was a rare commodity in 1814.
The imperial Eagle, adorning the catalogue of the Imperial Library of Fontainebleau. Napoleon thought as books as practical objects. He cared little for how they looked, but still enjoyed high quality binding. “I am rich enough for this”, he would say.
Calculations for the creation of an additional library for the emperor Napoleon, by his bibliographer and librarian, Antoine Alexandre Barbier. As always, history made up the bulk of Napoleon’s readings.
Design for one of Napoleon’s many traveling libraries by the manufacturer in 1809. Humble yet poignant dive into the empire’s literary archives.
Standard of the Dragoons of the Imperial Guard, also known as the “Empress Dragoons”, in honor of empress Josephine. These elite warriors could fight on foot and horseback. They wore an (unfortunately) artificial leopard’s mane on their brass helmet.
Established in 1803, it was made up of Irish refugees to France, and had the original purpose of being the core of an army aimed at invading and liberating Ireland. It fought with distinction in Spain and during the Walcheren expedition.
“Belgium, where there occurred one of the rare appearances of the hero in history, was lifted above herself by the uncomplicated conscience of her King and, faced with the choice to acquiesce or resist, took less than three hours to make her decision, knowing it might be mortal.”