Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 20: Neoclassicism - Napoléon on his Imperial Throne (1806)

by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The final example of Neoclassical art is Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres' 1806 history painting, 'Napoléon on his Imperial Throne.' The French emperor, Napoléon Bonaparte, sits on his throne, wearing his coronation outfit which includes a laurel wreath of gold. Eagles and white ivory spheres adorn the throne. A golden eagle and the symbols ANNO (Italian for 'Year') 1806 decorate the rug under the throne. Napoléon holds the hand of justice in his left hand and Charlemagne's scepter in his right hand. Also tucked under his left arm is his coronation sword. He wears the emblem of the Legion of Honor around his neck.

Vocabulary

Napoléon Bonaparte: 'A French statesman and military leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution.' [1]
Imperial: Related to an empire, emperor, or empress.
Throne: An impressive seat used by a monarch.
Coronation: The act of crowning a sovereign.
Laurel: A crown made from the aromatic leaves of a laurel evergreen shrub.
Legion of Honor: The medal awarded for achieving the highest order of merit in France.
Propaganda: A concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behavior of large numbers of people.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Neoclassical
2. Timeline - 1700s-1800s

Neoclassical Movement Characteristics:

1. Inspired by Antiquity ('The Death of Socrates' [4] by Jacques-Louis David in 1787)

2. Simplicity - Line Drawings and Prints ('Scene in Homer's Iliad' by John Flaxman in 1795)

Neoclassical Movement Subjects:

1. Fiction ('King Lear in the Storm' by Benjamin West in 1788)

2. Greek and Roman Mythology ('The Fight Between Mars and Minerva' by Jacques Louis David in 1771)

3. History Painting ('The Death of General Wolfe' by Benjamin West in 1770 [5])

Neoclassical Architecture:

1. Colonnades - Series of Columns (The Madeleine Church in Paris, France, completed in 1828)

2. Porticos - Small Spaces with Roofs Supported by Columns (Portico of the U.S. White House, built starting in 1792)

3. Capital - Uppermost Part of Column (Capital with bundled corn stalks installed in the U.S. Capitol Building in 1809)

4. Friezes (Academy of Athens in Athens, Greece, designed in 1859)

5. Flat Roofs and Straight Lines (Altes Museum in Berlin, Germany built between 1823 and 1830)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Napoléon
• Eagles
• The Year
• Scepter
• Something Pointing
• Something Made of Ivory
• Something in a Sheathe
• The Legion of Honor
• Laurel Crown
• Throne
• Emperor

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Read About the 'Napoleon Complex'

• Napoléon Bonaparte was an aggressive military leader who won many battles.
• Napoléon was ridiculed for his lack of height, although he was only an inch or so shorter than the average man at the time.
• A 'Napoleon Complex' is a derogatory phrase for domineering behavior, claimed to be a form of psychological compensation for one's short physical stature.
• See below British propaganda which mocks Napoléon for his height (Napoléon's wearing an oversized hat and sword and much shorter than the squatting British Prime Minister).

Activity 4: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Neoclassical art movement.
• Find the Neoclassical art movement on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did the Neoclassical art movement flourish?
• Which art movement preceded the Neoclassical art movement?
• Which art movement followed the Neoclassical art movement?

Activity 5: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 23 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The lone character is Napoléon Bonaparte, the Emperor of France.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is in a room with a throne.

2 / 5

Question 3

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

3 / 5

Answer 3

This painting belongs to the Neoclassical art movement.

3 / 5

Question 4

How is this painting reflective of the Neoclassical art movement?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The Neoclassical art movement often featured notable historical figures, such as Napoléon Bonaparte.

4 / 5

Question 5

During which century was this artwork created?

5 / 5

Answer 5

Ingres painted this artwork in the 19th century.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The lone character is Napoléon Bonaparte, the Emperor of France.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is in a room with a throne.
3. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Neoclassical art movement.
4. How is this painting reflective of the Neoclassical art movement? The Neoclassical art movement often featured notable historical figures, such as Napoléon Bonaparte.
5. During which century was this artwork created? Ingres painted this artwork in the 19th century.

References

'Napoleon.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Napoleon Complex.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Napoleon I on His Imperial Throne.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Neoclassical Art.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Neoclassical Architecture.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.