Portrait of Napoléon Bonaparte, The First Council (1804) by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

Portrait of Napoléon Bonaparte, The First Council - Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres - 1804

All Artwork Images

Artwork Information

TitlePortrait of Napoléon Bonaparte, The First Council
ArtistJean Auguste Dominique Ingres
Date1804
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions227 x 147 cm
Art MovementNeoclassicism
Current LocationMusée des Beaux-Arts de Liège (BAL), Liège, Belgium

About Portrait of Napoléon Bonaparte, The First Council

The artwork titled “Portrait of Napoléon Bonaparte, The First Consul” is a striking oil on canvas painting by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, completed in the year 1804. The painting is an exemplification of the Neoclassical art movement, meticulous in its detail and classical in its form. At 227 centimeters in height and 147 centimeters in width, the portrait is substantial in size. This piece is a genre of portrait, presently housed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Liège (BAL) in Liège, Belgium.

In this commanding portrait, Napoléon Bonaparte is depicted with a resolute expression, clad in a richly embroidered red military uniform, replete with intricate gold detailing, symbolic of his rank and authority. His bearing is confident and determined, reflecting his status as a formidable leader during a consequential period of French history. The artwork skillfully captures his poise and the sternness characteristic of his leadership. He stands beside a sumptuously draped table, resting his hand upon a set of documents that could signify the weighty administrative duties he shoulders. The meticulously rendered regal chair on the right side reinforces the image of power and governance. Behind him, a partially open curtain reveals a distant cityscape, suggesting the wide scope of his rule and ambitions for France. The artist, Ingres, has achieved a harmonious balance in the composition, uniting the somber color palette with warm accents to draw the viewer’s attention to the central figure, thereby ennobling the depicted character in a manner fitting for a leader of Napoléon’s stature.

Other Artwork from Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

More Neoclassicism Artwork

Scroll to Top