American, Boston
Bust of Napoleon, before 1919
Photograph
This grainy black and white photograph shows a bust of Napoleon displayed on a shelf next to the mantle of a fireplace. Napoleon’s curly hair is closely cropped and he looks pensively outward. He is wearing an open collared jacket that exposes his shirt with a high neckline.
Short Gallery
Commentary
While attending finishing school in Paris during the 1850s, Isabella Stewart Gardner was captivated by French literature, culture, and history. Of particular note is her interest in the former French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. This photograph is one of several souvenirs related to Napoleon that Isabella collected, although the source is unknown. It shows a carved bust of Napoleon sitting next to a mantle, possibly in someone's home. According to Isabella's inscription on the back, it was carved by Guiseppe Ceracchi, who later conspired to assassinate Napoleon and was subsequently executed. Although Ceracchi did carve a bust of Napoleon, it differs greatly in appearance from the one in this photograph. It remains a mystery as to where this photograph came from and where Isabella's attribution to Ceracchi came from.