Napoleon in coronation costume
After the painting by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1806
Oil on canvas
122 x 92cm
This portrait of Napoleon shows him seated on his imperial throne in the costume
of his coronation, and was first shown at the Salon of 1806 to great criticism, including
that of Ingres' own painting master, David. Ingres was panned for his imagery, harsh
color scheme and his cold precision with paint. But what most baffled his audience
was his deliberate reference of pre-