Who painted Bonaparte Crossing the Alps in 1850?
Paul Delaroche painted Bonaparte Crossing the Alps between 1848 and 1850. Delaroche was a French painter who had studied under Antoine-Jean Gros, a protege of Jacques-Louis David.
Questions about Bonaparte Crossing the Alps
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How is Paul Delaroche's Bonaparte Crossing the Alps different from David's version?
Delaroche depicted Napoleon on a mule, led by a peasant through a snow-filled pass. Jacques-Louis David's series of five paintings, produced between 1801 and 1805, showed Napoleon calm on a spirited horse at the Great St. Bernard Pass.
Where are the versions of Delaroche's Bonaparte Crossing the Alps displayed?
Versions are held at the Louvre-Lens and the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, England. Queen Victoria owned a smaller version of the painting.
Why did Napoleon cross the Alps in 1800?
Napoleon chose the Alpine route to launch a surprise assault on the Austrian army in the Cisalpine Republic, following French defeats in Italy. He selected the Great St. Bernard Pass as the shortest route, betting that the Austrians would not expect so large a force to attempt it.
How many soldiers did Napoleon lead across the Alps in 1800?
Napoleon led 40,000 soldiers through the Great St. Bernard Pass beginning on the 15th of May 1800, not including field artillery and baggage trains. The force comprised roughly 35,000 light infantry and artillery troops alongside 5,000 cavalry.
How did critics respond to Delaroche's Bonaparte Crossing the Alps?
Reception was mixed. The Athenaeum praised the painting's physical detail but said the genius behind Napoleon's rise would be sought in vain in the canvas. The Gentleman's Magazine criticised Delaroche as an artist of talent rather than genius, arguing he had lowered himself to the public rather than elevating it.