Napoleon On St Helena

[poliphilo]

Most of the pictures of Napoleon on St Helena show him dressed in his little corporal's outfit standing or sitting on a picturesque headland gazing out to sea. I doubt he ever actually struck that pose ( he wanted respect not pity) but it's an affecting image and there are many, many versions, quite a few of them by British artists because the British love Napoleon. Even Turner had a go- though he varied the formula by having the Emperor with his back to a blazing sunset, gazing at an anemone in a rock pool.

He wanted his captors to address him as Majesty and they wouldn't, but was happy for 13 year-old Betsy Balcombe to call him Boney.

The picture I like best is by Horace Vernet. His Napoleon is doing the gazing out to sea thing but has changed his uniform for a baggy white suit and straw hat and is sitting on a rustic bench with a newspaper under his elbow. It won't have been done from life but I imagine it's the truest. 

Comments

[sovay]

His Napoleon is doing the gazing out to sea thing but has changed his uniform for a baggy white suit and straw hat and is sitting on a rustic bench with a newspaper under his elbow.

I'd never seen that! That's wonderful. It looks like a story.

[oakmouse]

That's a lovely piece! Yes, I would imagine that it's the most accurate of the various efforts. It's certainly the most charming of the ones I've seen.

[poliphilo]

I don't know why I feel so sorry for Napoleon. He was a murdering bastard. Maybe it's because so many people's dreams were wrapped up in him.

[poliphilo]

I love it that for once he's not putting on an act- or- if he is- it's a different act.

[cmcmck]

https://youtu.be/nGGUEe2Q2Eo

So many fine ballads about boney but this is the best of them all for me!

[oakmouse]

I like the fact tha the looks happy, and almost a little goofy. It's a very different mood than what we usually see.

[poliphilo]

I like the one that goes on and on and has the refrain- John France Wah! I guess it's a capstan song.

"Boney went to St Helena
John France Wah!
Board the Billy Ruffian.
John France Wah!"

Then there's Ruddy's St Helena Lullaby which is sublime.

[poliphilo]

It's like a candid camera shot. As if the artist had snuck up on him unawares.

[oakmouse]

Or as if it was painted from the point of view of Betsy Balcombe or some other good friend before whom he was comfortable being himself.