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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 1

Josephine Bonaparte

Bust
ca. 1808 (made)
Artist/Maker
Chinard, Joseph (sculptor)
Place of origin
France (made)

Joseph Chinard (1756-1815), the sculptor of this bust, was trained initially in Lyon but travelled to Rome where he stayed 1784-87. Here he was highly influenced by the sculpture of antiquity, in terms both of subject and style. He won a prize from the Accademia di San Luca for a terracotta sculpture of Perseus and Andromeda (still in the Accademia collection). He returned to Rome again in 1791.

Chinard carved a considerable number of marble busts for members of the Bonaparte family and was known particularly for his portraits of women. This bust was apparently an official portrait of Josephine Bonaparte (1763-1814), wife of Napoleon, and several versions are known including in terracotta. A marble bust of Josephine by Chinard, similar to this one, was recorded as being shown at the official Salon in Paris in 1808.

Josephine's dress has a low-cut bodice with anthemion (honeysuckle) ornament, echoed in her diadem; one of the most popular motifs at the time, derived from classical antiquity and used frequently in the Neoclassical and then Empire style.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Portraits
Object type
Bust
TitleJosephine Bonaparte (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble bust
Marble
Carved
Brief description
Marble bust of Josephine Bonaparte, by Joseph Chinard, France, ca. 1808
Physical description
Marble bust of Josephine Bonaparte
Dimensions
  • Height: 68cm
  • Width: 47cm
  • Depth: 29cm
Taken by SCP Oct 05. Confirmed by Conservation, 2012. (though height of 69.53 cm previously noted by hand on object card as 're-checked' by T.H).
Gallery label
  • Bust: Empress Josephine About 1808 Chinard spent much of his career in his native Lyons, and was probably the best French sculptor of his time working outside Paris. He carved several busts of members of the Bonaparte family and was known particularly for his portraits of women. This bust of Josephine Bonaparte (1763-1814), made a year before her divorce, was apparently an official portrait.(31/03/2017)
  • Bust of Josephine Bonaparte About 1808 Josephine de Beauharnais married Napoleon in 1796 and was crowned Empress of the French in 1804. Josephine placed large, influential commissions for the re-decoration of her palaces. She also wore the newest fashions, such as the high-waisted dress with low-cut bodice shown here. The honeysuckle ornament on the dress derived from classical antiquity and was often used in the Empire style. The need for an heir led Napoleon to divorce Josephine, but she remained a powerful tastemaker. France (Paris) By Joseph Chinard Marble Bequeathed by Miss F.H. Spiers (09/12/2015)
  • 'American and European Art and Design 1987-2006' Chinard carved a considerable number of busts for members of the Bonaparte family and was known particularly for his portraits of women. This was apparently an official portrait of Josephine Bonaparte (1763-1814) and several versions are known.(1987-2006)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss F.H. Spiers
Object history
This bust was apparently an official portrait of Josephine Bonaparte (1763-1814) and several versions are known. Bequeathed by Miss F.H. Spiers.
Historical context
Chinard carved a considerable number of busts for members of the Bonaparte family and was known particularly for his portraits of women.
Subject depicted
Bonaparte, Josephine
Summary
Joseph Chinard (1756-1815), the sculptor of this bust, was trained initially in Lyon but travelled to Rome where he stayed 1784-87. Here he was highly influenced by the sculpture of antiquity, in terms both of subject and style. He won a prize from the Accademia di San Luca for a terracotta sculpture of Perseus and Andromeda (still in the Accademia collection). He returned to Rome again in 1791.

Chinard carved a considerable number of marble busts for members of the Bonaparte family and was known particularly for his portraits of women. This bust was apparently an official portrait of Josephine Bonaparte (1763-1814), wife of Napoleon, and several versions are known including in terracotta. A marble bust of Josephine by Chinard, similar to this one, was recorded as being shown at the official Salon in Paris in 1808.

Josephine's dress has a low-cut bodice with anthemion (honeysuckle) ornament, echoed in her diadem; one of the most popular motifs at the time, derived from classical antiquity and used frequently in the Neoclassical and then Empire style.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.36-1939

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Record createdApril 27, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O123434/josephine-bonaparte-bust-chinard-joseph/
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