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Cruikshank's Napoleon

Napoleon crowning himself Emperor of France

George Cruikshank (1792-1878), who began his long and influential career as a caricaturist and book illustrator at the age of eight, working in his father’s shop, produced a steady output of political prints for over sixty years, although he focus had shifted to book illustration by the mid 1820’s. His works, which include more than 6000 graphic designs, ranged from portraits (some satiric, others not, depending on the tastes of his patrons and employers), attacks on politicians, the British monarchy, and Napoleon, illustrations for children’s books, and advertising for the Temperance Movement. By the second decade of the nineteenth century he was admired as the leading British caricaturist. Just before and after Napoleon’s final defeat in 1815, Cruikshank executed a number of political caricatures of the defeated French Emperor. These and earlier portraits of Napoleon at key moments in his career present a double sided image of the artist as by turns a created of dignified portraits and a savage caricaturist of the Frenchmen the British loved to hate.

Date Published

Date Published
September 2009

Exhibit Items

Soldiers fighting on a bridge over a river

George Cruikshank
In collaboration with William Combe

This image depicts the Battle of Lodi, fought by the French forces (led by Napoleon) against the Austrians (Gen. Beaulieu). The French forces, though caricaturized in this image, were victorious.

Bridge of Lodi

Soldiers crossing a mountain gorge

George Cruikshank
In collaboration with William Combe

This image primarily depicts Napoleon's attempt to lead the bedraggled French forces across the Italian Alps.

Crossing the Alps

Napoleon crowning himself Emperor of France

George Cruikshank
In collaboration with William Combe

This image depicts the coronation of Napoleon at Notre Dame. Signifying the controversial nature of his rise to power, Napoleon crowns himself rather than being symbolically invested by the collective will of the nation.

Crowning Himself Emperor of France

Napoleon's marriage to Josephine

George Cruikshank
In collaboration with William Combe

This image depicts the marriage of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais. It is, however, a fictional representation, as Napoleon and Josephine never had a religious ceremony.

Marriage to Josephine

Soldiers in a mountain valley

Unknown
In collaboration with William Henry Ireland

Napoleon on his characteristic white horse is at the forefront of this image, which depicts the French army’s early attempt to cross the Alps. Other men, who are both on horseback and on foot, surround him.

Napoleon and His Army Effecting a Wonderful Passage of the Alps, at Mount St. Bernard

A portrait of the Emperor Napoleon

George Cruikshank
In collaboration with William Henry Ireland

This image depicts Napoleon posing majestically as the newly crowned Emperor of France.

Napoleon the Great, in his Coronation Robes

Soldiers fighting on a snowy field

George Cruikshank
In collaboration with William Henry Ireland

Though this image is intended to accurately represent the retreat of Napoleon and his forces from Moscow, the event is fictionalized by the depiction of the troops with an ample supply of clothes and equipment.

Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow

Napoleon and Josephine in a garden

George Cruikshank
In collaboration with William Henry Ireland

Napoleon and Josephine pose in the garden of their chateau, Malmaison. The image is a combination of historical accuracy and fictional representation: while Napoleon and Josephine are depicted realistically, their property is represented in much better condition than it actually was.

Napoleon, when first consul, & madame Josephine, (his first wife) in the Garden at Malmaison

Soldiers in thick snow

George Cruikshank
In collaboration with William Combe

This image depicts the retreat of Napoleon and his forces from Moscow, with particular emphasis on the harsh and nightmarish conditions of their journey.

Retreat from Moscow

Collection Credits

Collection Credits
Department of Special Collections, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI

Exhibit Tags

Exhibit Tags
napoleonic wars

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