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Napoleon Crossing the Alps

History, Religious and Mythological Paintings

Napoleon Crossing the Alps is a series of five equestrian portraits in oil on canvas painted by the French artist Jacques Louis David between 1801 and 1805, showing Napoleon Bonaparte astride a rearing horse. The composition was commissioned by the King of Spain and presents an idealized version of the real crossing that Napoleon and his army made through the Great St Bernard Pass in May 1800. Multiple versions of the painting survive in French, Austrian and German collections.

Facts
Year Created
1801 1
Series of five paintings, painted 1801 to 1805; year-created records the start year.
Medium
Oil on canvas 1
Commissioned By
The King of Spain (Charles IV of Spain, per the article's own link target) 1
The article prose names only the King of Spain; its internal wikilink target names Charles IV of Spain.
Classification
Genre
Painting 1
Connections

Created By

Sources
1. Napoleon Crossing the Alps (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • lead section
    Initially commissioned by the King of Spain, the composition shows a strongly idealized view of the real crossing that Napoleon and his army made along the Alps through the Great St Bernard Pass in May 1800.
  • Genre reference
    Napoleon Crossing the Alps is a series of five equestrian portraits in oil on canvas painted by the French artist Jacques Louis David between 1801 and 1805, showing Napoleon Bonaparte astride a rearing horse.
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