Napoleon III
Bust
1874 (made)
1874 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux was a leading sculptor of the Second Empire in France, the period of rule by Napoleon III (1808-1873) as Emperor of the French, which lasted from 1852 until 1870 when Republican forces took over and Napoleon was overthrown. He fled to exile in England and lived with his wife and son at Camden Place, Chislehurst, Kent.
Carpeaux had been court sculptor in France until the Emperor’s exile and came himself to London March-December 1871 and was commissioned to sculpt a bust of Napoleon at the end of his stay. Carpeaux made preparatory drawings at Chislehurst but returned to Paris in 1872. When Napoleon died on 9 January 1873, the Empress summoned him back. The first version of the bust (now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art) was produced by Carpeaux for the Empress herself and the second version for Count Paul Demidoff.
This V&A bust is an authorized second version of the portrait executed for the imperial family and commissioned by the Empress in 1874. The sculptor's workshop later produced terracotta and plaster versions in various sizes for sale to Bonapartist supporters.
Carpeaux had been court sculptor in France until the Emperor’s exile and came himself to London March-December 1871 and was commissioned to sculpt a bust of Napoleon at the end of his stay. Carpeaux made preparatory drawings at Chislehurst but returned to Paris in 1872. When Napoleon died on 9 January 1873, the Empress summoned him back. The first version of the bust (now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art) was produced by Carpeaux for the Empress herself and the second version for Count Paul Demidoff.
This V&A bust is an authorized second version of the portrait executed for the imperial family and commissioned by the Empress in 1874. The sculptor's workshop later produced terracotta and plaster versions in various sizes for sale to Bonapartist supporters.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Napoleon III (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Sculpted marble |
| Brief description | Bust, white marble, of Napoleon III, by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Paris, 1874 |
| Physical description | White marble bust with contemporary base and column. Napoleon III is shown facing forwards with his eyes turned to his left, bare-chested, with a large moustache. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900'
Carpeaux had been court sculptor to Napoleon III (1808-1873) until the Emperor left for exile in England 1870. This bust is an authorized second version of the portrait executed for the imperial family. Carpeaux made preparatory studies when he visited the exiled ex-Emperor at Chislehurst in 1871 and was called by telegram in 1873 to his deathbed to make further drawings. The sculptor's workshop later produced terracotta and plaster versions in various sizes for sale to Bonapartist supporters.(1987-2006) |
| Object history | This bust is an authorized second version of the portrait executed for the imperial family. Carpeaux, who had been court sculptor to Napoleon III, made preparatory studies when he visited the exiled ex-Emperor at Chislehurst in 1871 and was called by telegram in 1873 to his deathbed to make further drawings. He completed the bust that year. In fact he made two marble versions. The first was for the Empress and the other, this one, which she authorised, was made for Count Paul Demidoff, who was closely associated with the royal family. Purchased from Heim Gallery, for £28,000, in 1983. |
| Historical context | Carpeaux had been court sculptor to Napoleon III (1808-1873) until the Emperor left for exile in England 1870. The sculptor's workshop later produced terracotta and plaster versions of this bust in various sizes for sale to Bonapartist supporters. |
| Production | Carpeaux made preparatory studies when he visited the exiled ex-Emperor at Chislehurst in 1871. This bust is an authorized second version of the portrait executed for the imperial family. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux was a leading sculptor of the Second Empire in France, the period of rule by Napoleon III (1808-1873) as Emperor of the French, which lasted from 1852 until 1870 when Republican forces took over and Napoleon was overthrown. He fled to exile in England and lived with his wife and son at Camden Place, Chislehurst, Kent. Carpeaux had been court sculptor in France until the Emperor’s exile and came himself to London March-December 1871 and was commissioned to sculpt a bust of Napoleon at the end of his stay. Carpeaux made preparatory drawings at Chislehurst but returned to Paris in 1872. When Napoleon died on 9 January 1873, the Empress summoned him back. The first version of the bust (now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art) was produced by Carpeaux for the Empress herself and the second version for Count Paul Demidoff. This V&A bust is an authorized second version of the portrait executed for the imperial family and commissioned by the Empress in 1874. The sculptor's workshop later produced terracotta and plaster versions in various sizes for sale to Bonapartist supporters. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.43-1983 |
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| Record created | April 6, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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