The King of Rome
Painted
in 1900 oil on canvas on panel 32 1/2x47 inches
Few
topics held such fascination for nineteenth century French citizens as
the life of Napoleon Bonaparte polarized arounf monarchists, republicans,
bonapartists and socialists. French politics produced these revolutions.
Although passions had cooled by the time Vibert painted This King of Rome
in 1900, his choice of subject matter was not entirely without risk.
The story of Napoleon forcing the Pope to recognise his son as the King
of Rome and, hence, heir to a new Holy Roman Empire, was only one episode
in a long tangled relationship between various French governments and
the Holy See* a history well known to French viewers of the time. They
also would have been familiar with portraits of the main players, not
only the Pope and Emperor but also the members of each encourage, and
would have scrutinized Vibert's picture for his success in portraying
these individuals in a well-documented situation. The specially made freame
adds a final touch of imperial grandeur to the composition.
In the painting we see Napoleon seated on the throne with his son on his
lap, and the crown and symbols of power on a cushion to his right. Cardinal
Ercole Consalvi, the popes diplomatic representative, pays homage before
the throne, and to the right Napoleon's brother in law Joachim Murat,
with plumed hat announces the guests. To the left of Murat seated below
the throne is the child's mother, the Empress Marie Louise, attended by
another brilliantly clad cardinal.
This painting is so detailed that almost every character can be identified.
The original is in the St.Louie Art Museum in the USA.
* - May not be the correct word - the source it was taken from was difficult
to interpret.
