medal
- Museum number
- 1906,1103.1371
- Description
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Struck bronze medal. (whole)
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The coat of arms of Paris, the mural crown as a separate element supported by two allegorical winged female figures, the one to left holding a sword in her free hand, the one to right holding a large cornucopia in hers, and below them, a banderole; raised border. (reverse)
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The Apotheosis of Napoleon I; in a quadriga in the sky, a star and an eagle holding a thunderbolt flying overhead, Napoleon to left, wearing a laurel crown, his cloak billowing behind his naked body, holds his sceptre and orb while to right Fame crowns him with a laurel wreath and holds her trumpet in her free hand, below them to left France in heavy robes mourns and looks upwards, arms raised, and to right Victory floats in front of the prancing horses, holding up a laurel wreath and a palm branch; below the quadriga, Napoleon's throne and a footstool on a podium, an eagle guarding it, and to right Nemesis pursues a naked male figure holding a dagger, a rearing snake coiled around his body, another naked male figure, having fallen, close by; in the background, the rocky cliffs of St Helena, and a decorative band with two figures, a man and a feline, and to right, pillars; raised border. (obverse)
- Production date
- 1854
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 76 millimetres
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- Curator's comments
- Ingres's painting, 'The Apotheosis of Napoleon I', for the ceiling of the Salon de l’Empereur in the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, was begun in 1852 and completed in 1853. It was destroyed in a fire in 1871.
For a drawing by Ingres of the same subject, dated 1859, a study for a huge cameo which was never realised, and for more information on an oil sketch of the painting and studies for its composition, see the drawing in the Department of Prints and Drawings, Registration Number 1949,0212.6.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
Associated Title: The Apotheosis of Napoleon I
- Acquisition date
- 1906
- Department
- Coins and Medals
- Registration number
- 1906,1103.1371