Artist(s):

del. PHILIPPOTEAUX, Henri Félix Emmanuel (1815-1884)

sc. FERDINAND (19th century)

Composed Title English:

Give this sword to my son.

Inscribed Title:

Remettez cette épée à mon fils.

Inscription:

Philippoteaux del // Ferdinand sc.

Description:

Napoleon lies in a canopied bed dressed in white bed-clothes, his head propped up by a pillow. He holds a sword which he is handing to Bertrand, who sits in a chair in the foreground at the foot of the bed. Behind him, Bertrand's son leans on the back of his chair and holds his head in his hand. A man in military uniform stands behind him. In the background on the other side are two men, one who covers his face. L'épée d'Austerlitz was placed on Napoleon's coffin by Bertrand in 1840 during the ceremony at the Invalides. Perhaps it is also the same sword which Napoleon's son holds in some of the representations of his death, where he mourns that he never had the opportunity to use it. Mme Bertrand sits in a chair in the foreground at the far right. She has her arm around her small son, who looks at Napoleon, and her daughter sits on a stool with her head on her mother's lap.

Original Work:

Death of Napoleon.

by

Philippoteaux, Henri Félix Emmanuel (1815-1884)

Subject Heading(s):