Napoleon Bonaparte is a polarizing figure in French history; however, his accomplishments are undoubtedly great. Through several successful military campaigns during the French Revolution, his leadership and military skills allowed him to climb into government power, which led him to become emperor of France. While some believed his reign was unfair as he ruled like a dictator, it is needless to say Napoleon’s reputation was largely associated with heroism and success through his use of propaganda. In Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1801) (Figure 1), Jacques-Louis David painted Napoleon crossing the alps through the Great St. Bernard Pass during his military campaign against Austria. David captures this moment of Napoleon as this is a critical moment in Napoleon’s military career after his victory against Austria. To further capitalize on his victory, Napoleon Crossing the Alps was used as propaganda to cultivate public support by exaggerating his success and image.

Sitting comfortably on a white horse, this oil on canvas equestrian portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte paints an uniformed Napoleon leading his troops to victory. The entire composition is clear and dramatic, similar to the classical baroque style. Napoleon and his white horse is centred in the canvas as they capture the viewer’s immediate attention. At first glance, the viewer first sees Napoleon intensely focused as he points straight at the alp’s peak. Draped with a vibrant red cloak blowing in the wind, Napoleon wears a well-fitted French general-in-chief uniform. The uniform entails a gold-trimmed bicorne, rich blue petticoat and bright golden pants detailed with golden tassels and gloves. Napoleon’s horse, a white horse with a golden mane, looks ready to charge to the peak. David paints an idealistic Napoleon with a well-sculpted physique and conventionally attractive face which really elevates Napoleon’s public image. In reality, Napoleon’s army was actually led by Magnus and Hannibal, names that David inscribed in the foreground on the rocks underneath the horse’s front legs. Napoleon actually caught up with his army a few days later on a mule in a measly coat. David’s intention, with Napoleon’s support, was to gain the support of the French public. By exaggerating his appearance and inflating his victories, Napoleon uses propaganda to his advantage to manipulate his public image and gain influence. As defined by Lexico, politics is defined as something done or acting in the interest of status or power. By moulding his public image and reputation, Napoleon was able to rise to success and gain power through the public’s approval. During the eruption of the French Revolution, the French citizens have faced through a self-indulgent monarchy then a ruthless revolutionary government. Napoleon’s popularity quickly won the people’s trust as France was in a difficult political position. As stated by Clark, “Socialism was one of the forces, maybe the force, that made for the falsely polarized choice which modernism believed it had before it - between idealism and materialism”. Socialism is a large ideology and language for the people and at the beginning of Napoleon’s reign, the French were looking for reform from a failing new government. While Napoleon Crossing the Alps was created to use as propaganda, it still gave the French motivation and trust in a new leader. Despite the truth of the actual event, this painting is a painting of authority that presented Napoleon as a timeless notion of a man in control that can lead France. 

Bibliography: 

National Gallery of Victoria. “Napoleon: Revolution to Empire.” Napoleon > A Closer Look: Jacques-Louis David. Accessed March 27, 2020. https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/napoleon/art-and-design/A-Closer-Look-Jacques-Louis-David.html.

Clark, Timothy J. Farewell to an Idea Episodes from the History of Modernism. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 2014.

“Ruysch, Flower Still-Life (Article).” Khan Academy. Khan Academy. Accessed February 13, 2020.https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/monarchy-enlightenment/baroque-art1/holland/a/ruysch-flower-still-life.